7 Days & 6 Nights

4.6

Best of Hadrian's Wall Path: West to East | 7 Days

Hadrian's Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Walk alongside northern Europe's largest surviving Roman monument.
Wild and beautiful landscapes of the border country.
Enjoy warm welcomes at your cosy accommodations each night.
View forts, turrets and milecastles en route.

This "Best of" Itinerary, as featured in The Telegraph, is five invigorating walking days that take in the best sections of the iconic Hadrian's wall! It's ideally suited to those who are simply on a bit shorter timescale or perhaps those who don't deem themselves to be the most seasoned walkers but still want soak in the history of the area. The Hadrian's wall walking holiday is a fascinating and rewarding walk in England. The wall itself is Europe’s largest surviving Roman monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Opened in 2003, the Hadrian’s Wall Path follows the course of the Roman barrier closely along its entire length. It is one of Britain’s most popular long-distance walks, and one of our most popular walking holidays. Hadrian's Wall Path is extremely well waymarked, making it simple to follow and allowing you more time to relax and soak it in. You will walk through some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery in England and enjoy regular viewings of forts, milecastles, turrets, museums and visitor centres all along the wall, assisting you in your journey of discovery.

From £729.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive Carlisle and overnight

Spend the night in Carlisle on your arrival day. Carlisle is a large town with a magnificent castle, cathedral and the Tullie House Museum - all are well worth a visit if you have any spare time.

Overnight Carlisle

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Howard Lodge | Guest House

Howard Lodge is a friendly family run Victorian guest house located a short walk from Carlisle city centre. All the rooms are spacious, tastefully decorated and have en-suite shower rooms. The dining room which is modern, bright and airy, with many original features, will make a relaxing start to your day.

Warwick Lodge Guest House | Bed and breakfast

Warwick Lodge is a family run guest house in Carlisle, Caron Archibald takes great pride in her home and loves welcoming people to stay. Guest rooms are spacious and beautifully appointed with en-suite bathrooms, tea and coffee making facilities, hair dryer and a TV. Caron is known for her great breakfasts; all ingredients are locally sourced and breakfasts are all freshly cooked to order.

Cartref Guest House | Bed and breakfast

Melanie and Graham can assure you of a warm welcome at their Grade II Listed Victorian Guest House in Carlisle, conveniently located just 5 minutes’ walk from the city centre Cathedral and Castle. All rooms feature comfortable beds, high quality pillows and linens, as well as modern en-suites, fluffy large bath towels and luxury Elemis toiletries. Free fast wifi available throughout the guest house.

Day 2 Carlisle to Haytongate (Lanercost/Brampton) 13.5 miles / 21.5 km

As the wall was predominantly dirt and turf in this section there is very little evidence on the wall remaining but this is still a lovely section of rural countryside and gives you time to reflect before heading to the Haytongate turn-off into Lanercost or Brampton.

Ascent: 120m / Descent: 40m

IMPORTANT: The distances and ascents/descents listed in this section are from Carlisle to the Haytongate turn-off, where you come off the official Hadrian's Wall trail path. From the Haytongate turn-off, you are likely to be walking to the closest village which is Lanercost (adding approximately 0.6 miles / 1km) for your overnight accommodation or to take a taxi to Brampton.

PLEASE NOTE: You may be overnighting in Brampton due to there being very few accommodations in Lanercost. From the Haytongate turn-off - if you decide to walk via our supplemented route to Brampton town centre - you will be adding approximately 3 miles (5km) and 100m's of ascent/descent to your walking day. This 3-mile section into Brampton can also be skipped by booking a local taxi from Lanercost Priory (number given in your tour documentation). Lanercost Priory has a tea room, so you can grab some refreshments while you wait.

Overnight Brampton

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Scotch Arms Mews | Bed and breakfast

The Scotch Arms Mews was originally an Inn, now a B&B with 10 rooms and a bar area to engage in a social drink. The guest bed rooms all have en-suite facilities and the owners have maintained the original features of the building.

Howard Arms Hotel | Hotel

Typical Cumbrian Inn in the heart of Brampton. All rooms are en-suite.

Oakwood Park Hotel | Hotel

Oakwood is an imposing Victorian house built in 1861, standing in its own grounds, surrounded by countryside of outstanding beauty. Oakwood has a fascinating history which can be felt on entering the house. It has kept its Victorian appearance inside and out. Excellent food is served from an extensive menu, with everything homemade. Relax and enjoy the views in the lounge, where you can be served coffee after your meal, afternoon tea, with their home-made produce, or just take things easy with a drink from the bar.

Day 3 Haytongate (via Lanercost/Brampton) to Gilsland 6 miles / 10 km

A pleasant section that follows a largely consolidated section of Hadrian's wall. After arriving in the village of Gilsland - ensure you visit a local pub for a well-earned pint and dinner.

Ascent: 145m / Descent: 115m

IMPORTANT: The distances and ascents/descents listed from this section are from the Haytongate turn-off, where you re-join the official Hadrian's Wall trail path to Gilsland. A further 0.6 miles / 1km walk at the very least is likely required as you walk from Lanercost to the Haytongate turn-off.

PLEASE NOTE: You may be overnighting in Brampton due to there being very few accommodations in Lanercost. From Brampton town centre - if you decide to walk via our supplemented route to the Haytongate turn-off - you will be adding approximately 3 miles (5km) and 100m's of ascent/descent to your walking day. This 3-mile section to the Haytongate turn-off can also be skipped by booking a local taxi from your local accommodation in Brampton to the Lanercost Priory (number given in your tour documentation).

Overnight Gilsland

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Brookside Villa | Bed and breakfast

Brookside Villa B&B sits quietly at the western edge of the village, less than 10 minutes’ walk from the Trail; your hosts have welcomed guests here since the opening of the Roman Wall path in 2003.

The 5 good-sized, fresh, bright rooms have king-size or twin beds and are thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of walkers & cyclists, with super-fast wifi, contemporary en-suites - powerful showers, huge towels, hair dryers, quality toiletries. There are drying facilities for wet boots & clothing and an overnight laundry service.

Enjoy a hearty breakfast in the airy dining room. The stylish, convivial Guest Lounge has a well-stocked Bar with local ales, and a global selection of wines Take a drink or your complimentary tea-time treat in the Lounge, Terrace or Garden. On arrival you can order your packed lunch for the next day, and arrange a table for dinner in the village pub.

Dacre House | Bed and breakfast

Built in 1860, Dacre House has served many purposes, Temperance Hotel, Board Residence, Tea Rooms and Antique Shop.

In June 2022 the house was re-opened as a luxury bed and breakfast accommodation for visitors to Gilsland.

Dacre House is situated in the centre of the village, on the Hadrian's Wall Path and near to all facilities.

The Hollies on the Wall | Bed and breakfast

Being a self-contained annexe, The Hollies offers a different and more flexible choice to your traditional B&B experience. The annexe offers you privacy to relax and has all of the extra facilities not usually included in a B&B holiday stay.

Day 4 Gilsland to Once Brewed 9.5 miles / 15.5 km

One of the most strenuous sections of the Hadrian's Wall Path as you will walk to the highest point of the trail - Winshields Crags. Although a little tougher you will be compensated by stunning views in every direction and be able to witness some of the best "intact" remains of the wall that are still around to this day.

Ascent: 335m / Descent: 240m

Overnight Once Brewed

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Vallum Lodge | Bed and breakfast

Situated within an acre of grounds in the Northumberland National Park, Vallum Lodge is a family run guest house offering excellent en-suite accommodation and personal service.

Twice Brewed Inn | Country Inn

The Inn is set amongst some of the most breath-taking scenery in England and stands in the shadows of Steel Rigg, without doubt one of the most dramatic parts of Hadrian's Wall. Their guest rooms in the inn are fitted with a flat-screen TV. The private bathroom is equipped with a shower and free toiletries.

Bridge House | Bed and breakfast

Bridge House has fabulous panoramic views of Milecastle 42, Cawfields and Hadrian’s Wall which encompasses its entire northern outlook. The house has two letting bedrooms; a double with an en-suite and a twin-bedded room also with en-suite. Both rooms have been newly refurbished to an excellent standard and have tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryers and televisions with Freeview and a DVD player.

Day 5 Once Brewed to Chollerford 13 miles / 20.5 km

This is one of the most spectacular sections of the wall, so keep your camera handy as you embark on a lovely journey through rugged countryside and a host of Roman ruins and forts. A particular highlight is Sycamore Gap (commonly known as the "Robin Hood" Tree) that featured in the 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" starring Kevin Costner. Before departing Once Brewed we recommend checking out the Vindolanda Fort complex (if you haven't already) - it's sure to be one of the highlights of your trip.

Ascent: 255m / Descent: 420m

Overnight Chollerford

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Hallbarns B&B | Bed and breakfast

Hallbarns is a detached farmhouse, on a working farm, situated on the edge of Hadrian's wall.

Linden House | Guest House

Linden House is the perfect escape for walkers offering lovely accommodation with friendly hosts. The house is a large Grade II listed property, all rooms have en-suite facilities and have all the amenities you require for a lovely overnight stay. The views from your room across the valley are absolutely stunning and completely unspoilt.

Simonburn Tearooms | Bed and breakfast

This old-school tearoom and B&B is great for walkers. The country-casual rooms feature TVs, free WiFi, and tea and coffeemaking equipment. All are on the first floor and accessed by stairs. Full English or continental breakfast is provided in the old-world tearoom on the ground floor. There's also a garden with tables, chairs and umbrellas, as well as a gift shop.

Day 6 Chollerford to Corbridge 9.5 miles / 15.5 km

This section sees you pass the excavations of an old Roman Town - here, you can wander through the streets between houses and buildings marvelling at how they have been preserved while underground. Locals here would have rested safely in the knowledge that Hadrian’s Wall kept out invaders from the north. It is also punctuated with interesting stops and places to visit, such as Corbridge Roman Town, Planetrees and Portgate.

Ascent: 255m / Descent: 270m

Overnight Corbridge

Accommodation

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

The Angel of Corbridge | Hotel

The Angel Inn has been a coaching inn dating back to 1752, many people have owned it until the current owners purchased it in 2011.

Peartree House | Bed and breakfast

Peartree House offers excellent accommodation with very accommodating hosts. The B&B is a five-minute walk from the centre of the village with its restaurants, tea rooms and pubs. They offer two en-suite guest bedrooms which have all the amenities you require for a lovely overnight stay.

Fellcroft | Bed and breakfast

Fellcroft B&B has been open to the public since 1992, offering B&B rooms in a well-appointed, stone-built Edwardian house. The house is located on a quiet road in Hadrian’s Wall country, within easy walking distance of the centre of Corbridge. Their rooms are simply furnished and have all the amenities you require for a comfortable overnight stay.

Day 7 Onward Travel

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 11kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 11kg is equivalent to 2 Neapolitan margherita pizzas. Buon appetito!. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.

Reviews

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

This West to East "Best Of" itinerary is a great chance to learn about the history of Hadrian's Wall Country and explore the surrounding countryside. It's perfect if you are short of time or just want to see the best sections of the wall.

Trip Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Long-Distance Trails

National Parks

Accessible by Rail

Grade & Terrain

This tour is graded easy to moderate, It is most suited for those walkers with previous long-distance experience. The route is a mixture of paths, tracks and minor roads. Some of the paths can become very muddy and boggy and negotiating this terrain can be slow-going at times. Please read the Hadrian's Wall Code of Respect in your guidebook, which gives guidelines as to how to care for the natural environment of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodation Information

Overnight in B&B’s, small hotels and guesthouses, specifically chosen to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. They all offer a warm welcome to walkers and traditional hospitality.

On our full Hadrian's Walking tours, the first day’s walk to Heddon (or beyond) is one of the longer walks so many of our walkers choose to arrive early in Newcastle, drop their bags at their accommodation in Newcastle and then enjoy the 5 mile (2.5 hour) walk to Tyne Bridge that afternoon, returning by metro to Wallsend and starting again from Tyne Bridge in the following morning. If you would like to do this please let us know when you book.

Please note that Bowness has limited accommodation and transport links so many walkers choose to finish the last days walk in Bowness and then catch the bus back to Carlisle that afternoon, ready for the journey home the next day. Just let us know at the time of booking if you would prefer this option.

Accommodation Location

We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in the tour itinerary. Occasionally, because of limited availability, we may have to accommodate you into alternative accommodations which are not listed in the description. If those listed are unavailable the alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described.

IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE REGARDING OVERNIGHTING IN BRAMPTON - Due to very few accommodations in Lanercost/Haytongate, you will likely be staying in Brampton overnight instead. Brampton is approximately a 3-mile (5km) walk away from the Hadrian's wall trail path turn-off at Haytongate and 2.5 miles (4km) from Lanercost. You can either walk this section (adding the 3 miles / 5km to your walking day) using our supplemented walking route given in or alternatively, if your legs are feeling a bit tired or you'd rather not walk this extra section, you can instead call a local taxi company to take you to Brampton instead (number given in your tour documentation). Local cab companies generally do runs via Lanercost priory for around £10-15 depending on the time of day/year. The Priory is worth a visit in itself and also has a tearoom where you can get refreshments as you wait. The following morning, you will again have to decide if you wish to book a local taxi back to the Lanercost priory or walk via our supplemented route (again potentially adding 3 miles / 5km to your walk).

Solo Walkers & Single Rooms

This tour is available to solo walkers, although a supplement is payable. If you require single rooms within your party we would be happy to accommodate your request, although it is not generally possible to secure more than three single rooms in a party. A single supplement is also payable.

Navigation What's Included

Included

Overnights in B&B’s, small hotels and guesthouses
Breakfasts
Baggage transfers
Detailed trip info and mapped tracks, via the Macs App
24/7 telephone support from our UK office

Excluded

Travel insurance (required)
Travel to Carlisle
Travel from Corbridge
Lunches & Dinners
Drinks and snacks
Personal equipment

Extras

Extra night(s)

When to go Travel & Transfers

Getting to the Start

Our West to East 'Best Of' itineraries start in Carlisle, Brampton or Gilsland.

Carlisle - Carlisle is a major transport hub that is easily reachable by train via all major UK airports and train stations. Newcastle is the closest.

Brampton - Firstly catch a train to Carlisle or Newcastle (again, these are both major transport hubs for all across the United Kingdom). Then from Newcastle or Carlisle take a train to Brampton Station. The trains to Brampton are almost every two hours. On Sundays, the train services are less frequent. Please be aware that Brampton station is approximately 2.5 miles from the centre of the town along a country road (there is a safe path to walk along).

Gilsland - There are various options to get to Gilsland that mainly will involve you getting a train to Carlisle/Newcastle/Corbridge and then a connecting train to Haltwhistle, From Haltwhistle you can catch a bus or taxi to Gilsland (this information is noted in your trip info). Please note: Sundays and bank holidays, train services are less frequent and the bus from Haltwhistle to Gilsland does not operate.

For the most up-to-date information on train timetables, we recommend checking www.trainline.com for your proposed travel dates/times.

Getting from the End

Our West to East 'Best Of'’ itineraries all end in Corbridge, which is easily accessible by train from Newcastle. Trains run approximately every half an hour and the journey can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on if they are direct or not.

For the most up-to-date information on train timetables, we recommend checking www.trainline.com for your proposed travel dates/times.

Newcastle is a major transport hub in the northeast of England and has excellent rail, road and air links from both Scotland and the South of England. It also has an airport which serves many carriers. You can take flights to and from London and there is also a direct flight (at the time of writing this) from New York City on United Airlines).

Baggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation.

At Macs Adventure, we work in partnership with many luggage transfer providers who set a limit on how many bags/suitcases they will transfer per person, and also the weight of the bag/suitcase. Your booking includes transfer of 1 bag per person. It is very important that you read the luggage information specific to your tour before departure. If you do not adhere to these limits, there is a great possibility that you will be charged locally both for extra bags or if they are too heavy. This limitation can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, our luggage providers have reasons for these limits (usually due to the Health and Safety of their employees), which we must respect.

Info & FAQ

General Information

The distances listed are an approximation of daily walk lengths.

You may also notice that the total overall distance varies on our different itineraries - this is due to where you overnight along the way. Some examples of this - on our shortest (full) Hadrian's Wall Path itinerary (7 Day) you will remain on the Hadrian's Wall path for large sections meaning you will not detour off to overnight in places such as Once Brewed (which means you don't add in the extra mileages of coming off and back onto the Hadrian's Wall Path). Or on our longest (full) Hadrian's Wall Path itinerary (10-day), there is a 3-mile (out and back) detour to overnight in Corbridge that you would otherwise skip on our other itineraries.

Diversions on the Hadrian’s Wall Path

No matter what year you are due to walk Hadrian’s Wall Path you are likely to find some minor diversions in place along the way – this can be for a mixture of reasons, from forestry work, path resurfacing, damage after a storm or just general trail maintenance. Normally this will be a logical path that skirts around the effected section, and you should be back on the official trail path in no time at all. If there are any major diversions in place, the Macs Adventure team will reach out to you to let you know. Please always respect any diversion in place and ensure you follow them for your own safety.

Online Documents

At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.

On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.

Hadrian's Wall Passport

The Hadrian’s Wall Path Passport is a great souvenir as you can collect stamps from seven points along the 84 mile journey across the breath of England. The passport is seasonal from 1st May to 31st October.

You can purchase it online or on the ground in a few selected shops along the wall. Sales of this passport support the vital maintenance of Hadrian's Wall allowing others to enjoy it for years to come. You can purchase it on the North East Museum Website.

Equipment

Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example, proper rain gear (jacket and pants), sun hat, sunscreen etc. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walk boots, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, and a daypack.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

Am I able to take my dog? What happens if I can’t walk a stage? What personal equipment do I need? When is the best time of year? Variations of distances in itineraries What can I do if I can’t walk? I don’t want to walk 15 miles on my first day, what can I do? Walking Direction How far in advance do I need to book? How fit do I need to be? How do the baggage transfers work?

Hadrian's Wall Path

Hadrian's Wall Path follows the route of the UNESCO world heritage wall, built to keep the "barbarians" (Scots!) out of Roman territory. This outstanding historical site is punctuated with milecastles, museums and recreations, not to mention some of the best walking in England.