Hadrian’s Wall Path

From Newcastle to the Solway Firth
 

Holiday Highlights

Complete a classic | Hike the entire length of an iconic National Trail.
Historic insight | See every surviving part of the great Roman monument. 
Original route | Walk from east to west – as the wall was built.   
Scenic variety | From city paths to the Solway Firth. 
Optional stargazing | A guided experience within the Northumberland Dark Sky Park.

Limited availability on Hadrian’s Wall Path for 2024 – book early for 2025.

Hadrian’s Wall Path. 8 nights
Hadrian’s Wall Path. 8 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday along Hadrian’s Wall

Enter a world of historic intrigue and natural wonder on a self-guided walking holiday along the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail. As Britain’s greatest Roman monument – and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – Hadrian’s Wall makes a fascinating backdrop to any hiking adventure. For the Romans, this was the edge of the known world, a dividing line, and a bold statement of imperial might. Follow in their footsteps and explore their remarkable achievements as you journey from east to west, in the direction the wall was originally constructed. 
As you walk, you’ll be greeted by a series of staggering landscapes. From the dramatic heights of the Great Whin Sill to bucolic meadows and shifting salt marshes, each day brings a new discovery – while every evening is spent at a handpicked hotel or guesthouse conveniently located close to the Trail. Of the accommodation, we particularly recommend an extra night at Twice Brewed Inn, to take advantage of its Dark Sky location and guided stargazing experiences. 

Other highlights include the famous Roman forts of Housesteads, Chesters and Birdoswald, each with their unique story to tell. Follow our lead and you’ll also discover the many smaller remains that lie forgotten in the landscape, and see how – even on days when it doesn’t appear – the Wall has given life to later buildings and settlements, such as Carlisle Castle. 

With both Carlisle and Newcastle featuring on the Trail, access is excellent – giving you the option to travel to the holiday by rail, and to connect easily with a fantastic choice of Inntravel tours in northern England and Scotland.
 
 
Gallery

 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.

This holiday spans the full length of the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail: taking you from Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west. As such, you will be able to collect all seven ‘passport’ stamps needed for the Trail Completion Certificate – sales of which support the preservation of the Wall. We recommend purchasing your Hadrian’s Wall Path Passport online before you travel, for example from the Trail Gift Shop.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    East England is less prone to rain than the west, but you should always be prepared for wet weather. The breeding season for seabirds is from spring to late summer, with large numbers of puffins on the Farne Islands between April and late July.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 6 6 8 10 14 17 19 18 16 13 9 7
    mm 55 38 48 44 51 51 52 66 55 50 60 54
  • Arrival in Newcastle upon Tyne
    Night 1: at Hotel du Vin (where you stay one night).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Newcastle to Heddon-on-the-Wall: 24km (15 miles), 8.5 hours; ascent 240m/descent 135m
    Your journey begins at the end – at Wallsend, the easternmost point of both Hadrian’s Wall and the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail. You arrive here by metro, with time to take in Segedunum Roman Fort before setting off on foot alongside the River Tyne. Your path leads you into central Newcastle, through the inviting Quayside and under the seven famous bridges that span the Tyne. City gives way to countryside, and a pretty riverside walk follows, before it’s time to make the final climb to Heddon-on-the-Wall. Your reward? Views back towards Newcastle and a relaxing night’s stay at Hadrian’s Barn (we also offer Laburnum House in nearby Wylam).
  • Heddon-on-the-Wall to Chollerford: 25km (15.5miles), 8.5 hours; ascent 245m/descent 315m
    Before leaving Heddon-on-the Wall, be sure to make a small detour to see its star attraction: the longest unbroken section of Hadrian’s Wall at its original width – up to two metres in places. Your onward route through the beautiful Northumbrian countryside is on the longer side, but with hardly any ascents. As you draw closer to Chollerford, you’ll once again spy the Wall, and there are opportunities to detour, including to the Chesters Bridge Abutment. This remarkable structure once belonged a very fine road bridge, but today it lies marooned on dry land – thanks to a change in course of the River Tyne. Once in Chollerford, you spend the night at The George Hotel.
  • Chollerford to Once Brewed: 20km (12.5 miles), 7 hours; ascent 375m/descent 210m
    It’s not long before things get exciting on today’s superb route: shortly after leaving Chollerford you have the chance to visit the Roman Fort of Chesters. This is Britain’s most complete Roman cavalry fort, renowned for its bucolic river setting and unusually well-preserved bathhouse. The landscape becomes higher and craggier as you continue west, and from Sewingshields the Wall is a constant companion. Your destination for tonight is Once Brewed – where you stay at the Twice Brewed Inn. Be sure to call at Housesteads first, however. Not only does Britain’s most complete Roman fort promise a wealth of historic intrigue but it also commands an astonishing natural position atop the dramatic escarpments of the Great Whin Sill.
  • Once Brewed to Gilsland: 14.5km (9 miles), 5.5 hours; ascent 220m/descent 315m
    Expect a challenge today – but also some of the best views of the holiday. The vistas from Walltown Crags are particularly extensive, enabling you to glimpse to the far west your ultimate destination: the Solway Firth. First though, you must reach Gilsland, and your route here takes you via both the Roman Army Museum and Thirwall Castle, a 12th-century ruin built using stones from the Wall. In Gilsland, stay either at Brookside Villa or Dacre House.
  • Gilsland to Brampton: 13.5km (8.5 miles), 4.5 hours; ascent 165m/descent 220m
    You’re now walking in Cumbria, having crossed the county border at Gilsland. This is the final day you’ll see the Wall but there’s plenty to savour, including a continuous 914-metre stretch from just outside Gilsland towards Birdoswald Roman Fort. The latter is well worth a visit, to appreciate both the incredibly preserved foundations and glorious panorama over the Irthing Valley. From here, continue through scenic countryside – with the views often reaching the north Pennines. A final roadside ramble brings you to Walton, from where a pre-arranged taxi transports you to Brampton and your accommodation, The Howard Arms or The Scotch Arms Mews.
  • Brampton to Carlisle: 16.5km (10 miles), 5.5 hours; ascent 50m/descent 110m
    Following a short transfer, you rejoin the trail at Walton. The gradients are much gentler now, so take your time to enjoy the pretty pastoral scenery – from open countryside and parkland to peaceful woodland and the sinuous River Eden. The forts and turrets of Hadrian’s Wall no longer appear, but in places you’ll still be able to make out the Roman earthworks. Once you reach Carlisle, you may also recognise the Wall’s stones in the city’s historic castle! Your Carlisle accommodation, Abbey Court Guesthouse, is just a few minutes’ walk from the centre.
  • Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway: 25.5km (16 miles), 8.5 hours; ascent 80m/descent 85m
    The scenery shifts again soon after you leave Carlisle and enter the Solway Coast National Landscape close to Burgh-by-Sands. King Edward I died in this historic village, and his body once lay in Burgh’s 12th-century church. Continuing west on this very relaxed route, you reach the salt marshes that are a haven for birdlife, and where, in spring and summer, flowering plants such as pretty sea milkwort brighten the landscape. As you near Bowness-on-Solway, marvel at the breathtaking views that extend across the Solway Firth and into Scotland. These views can also be enjoyed from your final accommodation, with both Shore Gate House and Wallsend Guest House overlooking the estuary.
 

Accommodation

There’s a real blend of accommodation on this holiday: from sleek city hotels to tiny guesthouses offering personal hosting. All have been selected to complement the walking – to ensure you get the most from your experience of hiking Hadrian’s Wall. 

In some places, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.
 
Prices & travel options
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  • 8 Nights: 01 August 2024 - 31 October 2024 & 01 April 2025 - 31 October 2025

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    1 - 26 Aug 2024 £1145 £690
    27 Aug - 30 Sep 2024 £1195 £690
    1 - 24 Oct 2024 £1105 £670
    1 - 30 Apr 2025 £1140 £695
    1 - 31 May 2025 £1170 £695
    1 Jun - 31 Jul 2025 £1210 £715
    1 - 24 Aug 2025 £1160 £715
    25 Aug - 30 Sep 2025 £1215 £715
    1 - 24 Oct 2025 £1125 £695
    3rd & 4th person discount -£20
    Single traveller supplement £20
    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps.

    Please note: dogs are not permitted on Inntravel holidays

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel du Vin, Newcastle upon Tyne
    Deluxe double: 01 Aug - 31 Oct 2024 £18
    Deluxe double: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £18
    The George Hotel, Chollerford
    Superior: 01 Aug - 31 Oct 2024 £21
    Superior: 01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £22

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    The Twice Brewed Inn, Bardon Mill (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Aug - 31 Oct 2024 £104 £104
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £107 £107
    Abbey Court Guesthouse , Carlisle (B&B) Double room Single room
    01 Aug - 31 Oct 2024 £123 £123
    01 Apr - 31 Oct 2025 £129 £129
  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - via Carlisle railway station

    Outward route
    not recommended in this direction
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Carlisle station (0h40) £20 flexible

    Connecting travel options - via Newcastle station

    Outward route Price per person Latest
    arrival time
    own taxi to hotel (0h10) pay locally flexible
    Homeward route
    not recommended in this direction
What is included
  • 8 nights
  • 8 breakfasts
  • luggage transported
  • route notes and maps
  • GPS navigation
  • walk transfers on days 5 & 6
 
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FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • Yes, prior to going on holiday you will be able to download GPX tracks so that you can follow your route on your smartphone or dedicated GPS device if you wish. It’s entirely up to you whether or not you use them – our detailed, step-by-step route notes remain the principal means of guiding you from A to B – but we provide them as a secondary means of navigation for additional reassurance when walking.
  • Yes, absolutely. Over the years, we have arranged a great many holidays in the UK for customers living in the USA, Canada, Australia and beyond.

    If you've never travelled with us before, it's worth reading the web pages which explain how we can cater for customers who live outside the UK. The main thing to bear in mind is that our tour operator's licence doesn't allow us to book flights that originate outside the UK, and nor are we able to book rail travel in the UK, so we can't make travel arrangements for you, other than pre-arranging taxis between the local railway station and the accommodation – see the ‘prices & travel’ section for the options available.

    For practical information about travelling to the UK, see the 'what do I need to know about travelling to England, Scotland and Wales?' question.
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • We are happy to take bookings for families of teenagers if they walk regularly, love the outdoors and are comfortable with the distances and ascent/descent involved, but please note that the bedrooms at most of the accommodation we use will normally only sleep a maximum of 3 people, and sometimes only 2.

    At the request of some of the accommodation providers on this holiday, we are unable to accept bookings for children aged under 16.
  • Unfortunately not. The Inntravel team includes many dog owners, but the extra considerations – such as whether taxi firms accept dogs for transfers to the start of walks, whether routes cross private land on which dogs are not allowed, and proximity to a vet’s – would add another layer of complexity to what are already quite complex holidays.
  • As a minimum, you will need a passport to enter the UK; requirements vary according to your nationality. It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. You’ll need to check requirements on the website of your own country’s government or that of the British government. Our essential travel information page provides links to websites where you can find out about the applicable requirements, along with general official travel advice.
     
    English is the most widely spoken of several official languages; in Wales, for example, Welsh has equal status. The currency is the British pound (Scotland issues its own bank notes, but Bank of England notes can be used in Scotland and vice versa). The UK follows Greenwich Mean Time during autumn and winter, but switches to British Summer Time (GMT + 1) from late March until late October.
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