There is a lot of planning, preparation, and training before setting off to do something like Hadrian’s Wall. I am so proud of myself for walking Hadrian’s Wall – especially because I did it all on my own! I planned it, booked it, prepped it, navigated it, and walked it all on my own, basically without any help from anyone. I decided to do the 84-mile walk over 6 days, which meant an average of 14 miles per day.

In hindsight, I wish I would have done this walk over 7 days instead of 6. I struggled to find accommodation in Walton on Day 4 of the walk, which meant that I had an extremely long day pushing on to Newton. It was only another 2 miles from Walton to Newton, but I was absolutely exhausted and I honestly didn’t think I would make it at a few points. If I were to do it again, I would have broken up Day 4 into two days, and gone from Steel Rigg/Once Brewed to Gilsland (9 miles), stayed there for the night, and then gone from Gilsland to Newton (10 miles). Or if I had been able to get accommodation in Walton, I would have had a rest day around Steel Rigg/Once Brewed, and then gone from Steel Rigg/Once Brewed to Walton.

Wondering how much it cost? Read my Hadrian’s Wall budget guide here.

But hindsight is a glorious thing. I can’t go back in time, but it is definitely doable to do the walk in 6 days and it seems like this is a pretty popular length of time to spend on it. I had one day at the beginning getting to Newcastle and dropping my car off, and then one day at the end getting back to Newcastle to pick up my car and head off again. Before you set off, make sure to buy the Trailblazer Hadrian’s Wall Path guidebook. This is the single best resource out there for hiking Hadrian’s Wall! You can also buy a trail passport through National Trails. It costs £6 and all the funds go towards the work National Trails does to maintain the Hadrian’s Wall path. If you’re wondering what else to pack, check out my packing guide for Hadrian’s Wall.

I also recommend using the OS Maps app if you’re hiking Hadrian’s Wall. I use this on every single hike I do in the UK – there is a small fee for an annual subscription, but they also offer a 7-day free trial. Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

There are lots of companies who offer guided multi-day walks on Hadrian’s Wall. If you’re wanting to do a one-day tour to some of the best places, check out the tours below!

So without further ado, this is my actual 6-day itinerary for hiking Hadrian’s Wall!

Day 0: Newcastle

There are simply too many things to see and do in Newcastle to try to fit it all in in one day! The Toon deserves a proper city break, particularly to check out all the good places to eat and drink (there are lots!). Before this I’d only been to Newcastle to get to the airport, and for a night out (don’t remember any of the bars we went to, oops). I spent a nice afternoon wandering around. If you’re interested in history (most likely the case if you’re hiking Hadrian’s Wall), Newcastle Castle and the Great North Museum: Hancock are two places you’ll want to visit if you like history. There’s also some pretty architecture along Grainger Street and Grey Street, such as Grey’s Monument, the Theater Royal, and the Central Arcade. BALTIC in Gateshead is one of the best museums in the city. For all things Newcastle, check out New Girl in Toon or While I’m Young, which are two of my favorite Northeast blogs. They share loads about Newcastle!

If you are coming by car, I always recommend stopping at the Angel of the North outside Newcastle. This is one of the most iconic symbols of the North of England, and even though I’ve been about a million times I still tend to stop if I’m driving past it.

Day 1: Wallsend to Heddon-on-the-Wall

Mileage: 15 miles (Strava: 15.92 miles)

Where I Stayed: Cosy Room (Airbnb) in Heddon-on-the-Wall

This was a great place to stay, less than half a mile down the road from the Hadrian’s Wall path. It’s easy walking distance to the pubs in Heddon-on-the-Wall, too. My single room was small but very comfortable, and the rainfall shower was pure luxury after my first long day walking. I would absolutely recommend this!

Highlights of the Day

The first day of the Hadrian’s Wall trail starts in Wallsend, a suburb of Newcastle (easy to get to by Newcastle’s Metro). The majority of this day is walking through Newcastle and the surrounding suburbs, so to be honest it’s not all that exciting or interesting after you leave the quayside in the city center.

Segedunum

The start (or end!) of the Hadrian’s Wall path is at Segedunum, which is the last Hadrian’s Wall fort heading east. There is a museum here, and while there aren’t all that many remains left, the exciting bit is that they have an observation tower so you can see them from a birds-eye view. This is the first (or last) passport stamping station. The sculpture of the Roman soldier outside the museum is the classic “starting/finishing Hadrian’s Wall” photo, so get a few snaps! Not long after, there is a signpost that shows Bowness-on-Solway as 84 miles away.

Newcastle Quayside

Walking through the city center of Newcastle isn’t all that exciting, but I loved walking along the Quayside. Seeing all the bridges (Gateshead Bridge, Tyne Bridge, and the Swing Bridge to name a few) was great, and it was fun being in the thick of the action on a market day. Again, you’ll need more time to enjoy Newcastle than just strolling through on the trail, but this part of the path was definitely a highlight for me.

Wall in Heddon-on-the-Wall

After hauling yourself from Wylam’s Waggonway up the hill to Heddon-on-the-Wall, I won’t blame you if you need to settle in for a pint right away (I speak from experience!). But don’t miss the first stretch of good Wall on the trail, here in Heddon-on-the-Wall. There’s over 100m of broad Wall running parallel to the B6528 road here.

Day 2: Heddon-on-the-Wall to Black Carts

Mileage: 18 miles (Strava: 20.36 miles)

Where I Stayed: Green Carts Farm

There are multiple options to stay at Green Carts Farm – they have a campsite, a camping barn (dorm/shared accommodation), and a bunkhouse for private rooms. I stayed in the bunkhouse, with my own 4-bed room all to myself. Jean, who ran the place, was so nice and helpful when I arrived (absolutely exhausted!), and I had access to the shared lounge and kitchen. It’s about half a mile off the trail.

Highlights of the Day

A lot of this day is spent walking along the road (B6318). You’ll need to cross the road at multiple stages, and be careful when doing so – it is a busy road (60mph). But finally the route is starting to get a bit more rural, you see more Roman bits of the Wall, and you enter Northumberland National Park!

Whittledene Reservoir (Great Northern Lake)

This pretty lake makes a good rest point – especially if it’s raining! There is a hide here which I sheltered in and was beyond grateful for. There are pretty views and opportunities for birdwatching.

Robin Hood’s Inn

The second passport stamping location, I’d definitely recommend Robin Hood’s Inn for food if you’re passing through as well. Maybe it was just because I was wet, tired, and miserable, but after a lunch stop here I felt motivated enough to carry on with the day’s walk. It’s a great pub and run by really friendly people!

Planetrees

This is the next bit of Wall you’ll see since setting off from Heddon-on-the-Wall. There are also pretty views out over the countryside here. There is also a small stretch of wall a bit further along (closer to Chollerford), Brunton Turret.

Chollerford Bridge

There’s not much in Chollerford itself (a pub/hotel, a café, and that’s about it), but the 18th-century bridge over the River North Tyne makes a nice entrance into town. You can also see the Roman bridge abutment on the southern side of the river, before you cross over the modern bridge.

Chester’s Roman Fort

One of the main historic sites of Hadrian’s Wall, Chester’s Roman Fort shouldn’t be missed. There is a museum of excavated pieces, but the Roman ruins are the best things to see. The bathhouse is one of the best Roman remains, and the barracks are well-preserved too. Chester’s is one of several excellent English Heritage sites around Hadrian’s Wall. If you’re planning on visiting them, I’d recommend joining English Heritage as a member as you’ll get in for free. With all the sites around the Wall, I covered almost the entire cost of my annual membership in just a week! This is another passport stamping station.

Entrance to Northumberland National Park

Walking up the hill from Chollerford, you’ll be treated to great views from Walwick Hill of the surrounding countryside. But my favorite bit happened to be a simple stile. The stile marks the entrance to Northumberland National Park, which was one of the most exciting moments for me on the hike!

Black Carts

This is a cracking bit of Wall, and one of the first (of many) excellent Wall sections in Northumberland National Park. For me, it was the end of the longest day of hiking I’d ever done! I had to detour slightly as there was a herd of cows in the field who were pretty close to the Wall. But this was one of my favorite parts of this day’s hike.

Day 3: Black Carts to Steel Rigg/Once Brewed

Mileage: 11 miles (Strava: 11.83 miles)

Where I Stayed: YHA The Sill

This is one of the most popular accommodation options on the Hadrian’s Wall path. With a big cafe and visitor center, plus very easy access to Twice Brewed Inn (one of the best pubs on the entire trail), this YHA is a great place to stay. Unfortunately, it was at a premium price for a solo traveler, as I had a private (4-person) room to myself and it was one of the most expensive nights of accommodation for me. That being said, it’s very conveniently located, and as it’s a YHA it was very clean and comfortable.

Highlights of the Day

This was my favorite day of the entire Hadrian’s Wall walk! If you’re wanting to do just one section of the path as a dayhike, this is the part I’d recommend. For the beginning of the day, the trail follows the road again, but then gets into truly spectacular scenery around Housesteads and ending just after the iconic Sycamore Gap.

Limestone Corner

Just after re-joining the path from staying at Green Carts Farm, you’ll come across Limestone Corner. This is the northernmost point of Hadrian’s Wall – also making it the northernmost point of the Roman empire in Britain! I recommend having the guidebook to hand so you don’t miss the particular spot.

Mithras Temple (Brocolita)

You can’t see much of Brocolita Fort, as it’s not excavated – it’s just a big mound. But as the trail swings around, there are some incredible remains of Mithras Temple. The altars you’ll see are copies (the originals are housed in a museum), but it’s really cool to see.

Wall near Sewingshields

After passing Grindon Turret, there is an excellent stretch of Wall as you get out of the woods. The views here are simply phenomenal, and walking along this part of the Wall feels truly unique. Sewingshields Crags features a dramatic drop on one side, and great views of the landscape ahead.

Sewingshields Crag trig point

For me, one of the highlights of the entire Hadrian’s Wall trail was returning to the trig point at Sewingshields Crag. I first visited Hadrian’s Wall when I studied abroad in Nottingham, on a group trip back in February 2014. Desperate to get off the bus, I wandered through Housesteads Roman Fort and then decided to race up to the trig point I could see in the distance. I remember how proud I was to reach it, and then had to race back down to get back to the bus in time. As we were leaving the fort, the trig point was visible from the road – I pointed it out to our program director, and said, “I made it all the way up there!” I remember this particular spot so vividly, and so it was amazing for me to return again. This is the start of a lot of ups-and-downs along the trail, constantly going up and doing small hills for pretty much the rest of the day.

Housesteads Roman Fort

Out of all the historic sites and Roman forts along Hadrian’s Wall, I think Housesteads is the best. If you’re only going to visit one, it should be this one! There is simply so much to see here. You can see the ruins of the headquarters here, as well as barracks, granaries, and the hospital. There is so much left to explore, so take your time. Housesteads is also an English Heritage site. There is also a passport stamping station here.

Crag Lough

This pretty lake is at the edge of the Hadrian’s Wall trail, and a really nice place for photos. The trail stays high above the crags here, with views down to the lake. There’s a nice stretch of Wall here and there from Housesteads along Crag Lough. You’ll also come across the intersection of the Pennine Way here.

Sycamore Gap

This is your chance to see one of the most famous trees in the country! Sycamore Gap features a sycamore tree at the low point of a dip in Hadrian’s Wall. The tree, with the Wall on either side, is a photographer’s dream, and one of the most scenic places in Northumberland and (in my opinion) in the north of England in general. It became very popular after featuring in Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood movie. There are a few more hills to get through, but this is nearly the last big stop of the day.

Vindolanda

If I had had a bit more time (and/or better knees, ha), I would have headed to Vindolanda! This museum is home to the most important historic find of artifacts in the country. For Roman history buffs, you simply can’t miss it. Unfortunately, my knees were hurting so bad at this point that adding on any extra miles wasn’t an option for me! But it’s definitely a place to see on the Wall.

Day 4: Steel Rigg/Once Brewed to Newton

Mileage: 19 miles (Strava: 20.95 miles)

Where I Stayed: Orchard House B&B

This was my most expensive accommodation throughout the duration of my walk, but it was worth it. Orchard House B&B felt like a little piece of heaven, as I arrived just before 7pm, absolutely exhausted. The bed in my room was so comfy and soft, and if I had had the energy, there was a beautiful claw-foot bathtub to sink into. I wish I hadn’t had such a long day, just so I could have spent more time here in the evening. My full English breakfast in the morning was excellent.

Highlights of the Day

This was the longest and most strenuous day of the Hadrian’s Wall trail for me. The walk through Northumberland National Park was beautiful, and crossing the border from Northumberland to Cumbria was exciting.

Green Slack (Winshields Crag) trig point

Marking 345m high, this is the highest point on the Hadrian’s Wall trail! There’s a nice section of Wall leading up to it, but I love me a trig point and that was the real highlight for me. If you’re walking just one section of Hadrian’s Wall around Housesteads and Steel Rigg, this is only about 10 minutes away from the car park – so don’t miss it.

Caw Gap and Cawfields Quarry

There are some cracking bits of Wall on this section of the trail. It stretches, unbroken, for over half a mile. Cawfields Quarry has a good section of Wall, and there’s a reservoir here (actually a flooded quarry).

Walltown Crags and Walltown Quarry

Walltown Crags has another good stretch of Wall, surrounded by a dramatic drop on one side. It’s one of a few remaining bits of Wall that (apparently) hasn’t had any 19th-century restoration. It eventually leads to Walltown Quarry, which is now a country park and has a small lake.

Thirlwell Castle

Close to the junction to turn near Greenhead, Thirlwell Castle rises up above the trail. It’s just ruins now, but the 14th-century castle was built to protect the area from cross-border raids.

Gilsland

This cute little village marks the crossing point between the counties of Northumberland and Cumbria. The Poltross Burn Milecastle, right on the trail, is one of the best milecastles on the trail. There is an exceptional bit of Wall around Willowford. I loved the dramatic drop of the Wall down to the River Irthing and the Willowford Bridge. The first bridge crossing here was built about the same time as the Wall (122AD), and now the river is a pretty place for a rest and a picnic.

Birdoswold Roman Fort

There is a great stretch of Wall leading up to Birdoswold Roman Fort, which is another English-Heritage-run site on Hadrian’s Wall. Look out for the phallic symbol on the Wall just before you reach Birdoswold (use the guidebook to help you find it!), and check out the farmhouse and Roman gates inside Birdoswold Roman Fort. There’s a passport stamping station here.

Pike Hill Signal Tower

While this is the only signal tower on the Wall, this was one of my favorite parts for the incredible views over Cumbria. Something about this scenery just felt so Cumbria to me – it reminded me of the Lake District, which you can see in the far distance. I was also extremely grateful to find Matthew’s honesty box shop, where I could get an ice cream!

Walton

After passing Hare Hill (the last bit of Roman Wall on the Hadrian’s Wall trail) and Dovecote Bridge, the trail was redirected along the road, up a hill to Walton. This is a pretty little village, with a cafe and a brewery! If I hadn’t have needed to carry on to where I was staying, I would have loved to stop for a rest and a pint here.

Day 5: Newton to Carlisle

Mileage: 9.5 miles (Strava: 9.88 miles)

Where I Stayed: Cartref Guest House

This is a fantastic B&B in Carlisle, perfectly located between the trail and with easy access to the city’s landmarks and shops/restaurants. My room faced out onto the (busy) street, so it was a bit noisy. But it was great value for money and even came with homemade Rocky Road when I checked in. They have a choice of breakfasts – I went for a full English, which was excellent!

Highlights of the Day

This was the shortest day of the walk for me, and to be honest not all that exciting. Most of the historic Roman ruins are behind you now, but for me it was now about getting to the end.

River Eden

Part of the trail goes along the River Eden. This was a beautiful section to walk in the sunshine, with birds singing and wildflowers rippling in the breeze. You meet up again with the River Eden just outside the city center of Carlisle.

Crossing the M6

This was one of the highlights of the entire Hadrian’s Wall hike for me, I got very emotional here. I’ve driven up the M6 so many times (mainly on my trips to Scotland), and crossing the motorway really hit home just how far I’d walked, and just how far I’d come since leaving Newcastle and Wallsend. I just couldn’t believe that I’d walked almost all the way across the country!!

Carlisle

Despite my many trips to the Lake District and the number of times I’ve driven past Carlisle, I’ve never actually been to the city. I spent a nice afternoon wandering around, mainly exploring Carlisle Cathedral (which has a stunningly beautiful blue and gold ceiling) and Carlisle Castle. Tullie House Museum is the main museum in town, and has a good Roman exhibition. There’s lots of shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs etc., so if you need to stock up on supplies before the final push you’ll have plenty of options here. The passport stamping station is supposed to be at the Sands Sports Center, but as it was under construction when I did it, the stamps were moved to Birdoswold to stamp in advance.

Day 6: Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway

Mileage: 14 miles (Strava: 14.90 miles)

Where I Stayed: Lindow Hall (Bunkhouse)

The upstairs of this village hall was converted to a bunkhouse. As pandemic restrictions didn’t allow for shared accommodation, Steve kindly allowed me to stay in the bunkhouse by myself, for the normal cost. There aren’t many places to stay in Bowness-on-Solway, so I was thrilled to be able to finish the walk, drop my stuff, treat myself to a huge meal with drinks at the King’s Arms, and get a good night’s sleep before setting off early the next day. Thanks Steve!

Highlights of the Day

For me, the real highlight of the day was that I was going to finish the walk. You leave the River Eden at Grinsdale, and there is a long stretch of road walking (I was baking in the hot sunshine!). I was focused solely on the finish line, but the trail does go through the Solway Coast AONB, which is great for birdwatchers.

Burgh-by-Sands

About half-way through the day is Burgh-by-Sands, the biggest and most important village you’ll pass through. It was here that King Edward I died in 1307. There’s a statue of him outside the pub, and a monument about a mile away from the main road. The old church here has drinking water if you need to refill your water bottle.

Dykesfield to Drumburgh Road

There is a seemingly never-ending stretch of road walking, surrounded by herds of very big and intimidating-looking cows. I felt like it was a mirage and I was never actually getting any close to Drumburgh! There was no escape from the hot sun beating down on me, no shade, no breeze, and very tiring. There are nice views over the marshes, as you can now finally see the start of the Solway Firth!

Port Carlisle

So close to the finish line, Port Carlisle is about a mile away from Bowness-on-Solway. You can really tell this is part of an AONB, as there are so many different types of birds here! I liked seeing the remains of the harbor walls in the sea.

THE END: Banks Promenade, Bowness-on-Solway

I don’t think there’s a better feeling in the world, than the moment you approach the tiny Banks Promenade at Bowness-on-Solway, having walked 84 miles across the entire country on your own. I laughed, I cried, I spent half an hour having a little photo shoot of myself here. This is where the Hadrian’s Wall path ends, and where you’ll find the last passport stamping station.

I think it’s very fitting that the Roman fort at Bowness-on-Solway was called Maia! There’s no finer way to celebrate than by sitting back with a pint at the King’s Arms pub. You’ve earned it.

Day 7: Bowness-on-Solway back to Newcastle

It was great to have a relaxing night in Bowness-on-Solway, but it can also be a bit tricky to leave by public transport! You’ll need to take Bus 93/93A, which will take you back to Carlisle (it cost me £6.30 for a one-way ticket). I then got the train from Carlisle to Newcastle, and the Metro from Newcastle station to Newcastle Airport to pick up my car. I ended up backtracking and roadtripping around Northumberland, to check out a lot of the places that I didn’t get a chance to visit on the walk itself. Here are a few bits around the Hadrian’s Wall trail that you should check out if you have time!

Lanercost Priory

You can see the pretty remains of Lanercost Priory, which was founded in 1166. It’s run by English Heritage today. The parish church, which is connected to the priory, is also worth a visit. There’s a huge, busy tearoom here as well.

Haltwhistle

Haltwhistle can be visited as a detour from the Hadrian’s Wall trail – it’ll take about 1 hour. But I chose to save my feet (aka my knees) the miles and visit after, by car. Haltwhistle’s claim to fame is that it is the center of Britain: it’s 290 miles from the Orkney Islands and Portland Bill in Dorset, and 36 miles from Bowness-on-Solway and Wallsend. There’s a signpost and plaque in the main square.

Hexham

Hexham could definitely keep you busy for an entire day, so it seems unfair to include it as a short stop. If you’re not wanting to walk Hadrian’s Wall, but want to explore more of this area, I’d recommend basing yourself in Hexham! The main draw is the magnificent Hexham Abbey, but there are so many cute shops, independent businesses, and cafes/pubs/restaurants to keep you busy.

Corbridge (and Corbridge Roman Town)

Again, you could spend most of a day in Corbridge, which is full of beautiful, charming buildings, and plenty of local shops, cafes, restaurants, and pubs. If you’re in the area, make time to stop by Corbridge to wander around. Outside of the town, you’ll find Corbridge Roman Town, which is another English-Heritage-run historic site. My favorite part of this Hadrian’s Wall site is that you can walk down the main street of what used to be the important Roman town here at Corbridge.

If you want to extend your trip, why not explore more of Northumberland? I had a weekend trip in Northumberland last year and absolutely loved exploring this incredible part of the country. The Northumberland coast is such an underrated area and there’s lots to see and do here. Visiting Alnwick was a highlight! I’ve also visited the Farne Islands to see puffins, which was amazing.

Hiking Hadrian’s Wall was the adventure of a lifetime. It was so difficult and there were times when I didn’t think I’d make it, but I pushed on and I’m so glad I did! It’s an incredible long-distance walk and I definitely recommend it. There is so much for history lovers like me, as you get to walk in the (literal) footsteps of Romans from thousands of years ago. The scenery, particularly in Northumberland National Park, is unbelievable. This is a fantastic National Trail and after my experience, I definitely want to do more long-distance, multi-day hikes in the future!

If you’re thinking of hiking Hadrian’s Wall, I hope this post gives you an idea of what the route is like, what you’ll see on the way, and why you should do it!

Have you hiked Hadrian’s Wall or visited these parts of Northumberland and Cumbria? What were your favorite places?

You might like my other posts:

What You Need to Know About Hiking Hadrian’s Wall

How Much Does it Cost to Hike Hadrian’s Wall?

Hadrian’s Wall Packing List: What to Pack for Hiking Hadrian’s Wall

Exploring Northumberland: A Coastal Road Trip Itinerary

Why You Should Visit Alnwick, Northumberland

My Outdoor Gear Guide For Hiking and Camping in the UK

All of my hiking posts!

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