It is the largest Roman archaeological feature in Britain and stretches for a total of 73 miles or 117.5 kilometres. (the walk itself is longer but more of that later) Regarded as a British cultural icon it is one of the country’s major ancient tourist attractions and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
Walking this incredible site takes you through two of the UK’s most stunning counties and past a number of fascinating historical sites. The walk involves hiking a coast-to-coast trail which actually covers 84 miles from Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west, passing through breathtaking countryside and impressive historical Roman sites, including forts like Housesteads and Vindolanda.
Hadrian’s Wall Path is 84 miles long, while the original Roman wall was 73 miles (80 Roman miles). The National Trail’s route is slightly longer to allow for detours and to ensure walkers stay on the footpaths and public land and are able to visit the key archaeological sites.
The longer route also offers a more scenic and complete experience, connecting different historic points along the former Roman frontier.
Hadrian’s Wall lies entirely within England and has never formed the Anglo-Scottish border, though it is often loosely described as such.
The National Trail is the primary way to walk the length of the Wall and an experienced walker can complete the entire 84-mile trail in 6 to 7 days, though more time is recommended to explore the Roman sites.
Hadrian’s Wall Path generally runs close to the wall. Almost all the standing masonry of the wall was removed in early modern times and used for local roads and farmhouses. None of it stands to its original height, but modern work has exposed much of the footings, and some segments display a few courses of modern masonry reconstruction. Many of the excavated forts on or near the wall are open to the public, and various nearby museums present its history.
The path includes an urban section through Newcastle and Carlisle, followed by rugged moorland and rolling countryside, including the dramatic Whin Sill escarpment.
The trail is clearly marked with acorn symbols and waymarking arrows. Among the highlights en route are major forts such as Segedunum (Wallsend), Chesters, Housesteads, and Birdoswald. Vindolanda is a highly significant Roman fort worth planning a visit to. Then there are the Solway Salt Marshes, a beautiful natural landscape at the western end of the trail.
Building of Hadrian’s Wall began in 122 AD during the reign of emperor Hadrian and included the stone base of the wall, forts every five miles, a military road, defensive ditches and milecastles. Astoundingly, a significant proportion of the wall still stands and you can clearly gain a sense of what it must have been like for the Roman Legionnaires to be stationed in this far-flung corner of the Roman Empire.
A spokesperson for the National Trail said: “Anyone who is reasonably fit can walk the Hadrian’s Wall Path and the route is relatively easy. The 23 mile (37 km) section between Chollerford and Birdoswald is the most difficult, with lots of short climbs and descents.
“The route is clearly marked and it’s worth considering whether you would rather walk the Path from east-to-west, in the direction the wall was originally built, or west-to-east, which is recommended for more favourable weather conditions.
“However the Trail is fragile and can become muddy in wet weather so the best time to walk Hadrian’s Wall Path is between May and October.”
Various travel companies offer trips to walk Hadrian’s Wall either as an organised tour or a self-guided walk through Northumbria and Cumbria. Maximum Adventure, who offer a seven day walking trip including accommodation, door to door luggage transfer and 24 hour telephone support say: “The trail is well signposted and despite the fact that it has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern England, it retains a real sense of quiet wilderness.”
They offer holidays from April to October from £839PP starting in Carlisle.