Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail

Hadrian's Wall Path, 84 miles (135km) from end to end, follows the course of northern Europe's largest surviving Roman monument, the 2nd century fortification built on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian in AD122 and now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The path crosses the beautiful border country between England and Scotland. Since it opened in 2003 Hadrian's Wall Path has become one of Britain's most popular long distance paths. Its 84 miles are a convenient week's walking, shadowing for the most part the historic line of Hadrian's Wall in its spectacular progress across the superbly wild landscape of the north of England.

Starting in what used to be Tyneside's shipbuilding heart, and joining Newcsatle in the east with Carlisle in the west it takes you via the extraordinary Roman forts of Vindolanda and Housesteads, close to handsome towns like Hexham and Corbridge, to the finish on the lonely shores of the Solway Firth with views of Scotland. Much of the Hadrian's Wall route lies within a World Heritage Site, and there are many opportunities to explore the fascinating history of four centuries of Roman rule. The Walk passes through the Northumberland National Park and the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so this really is a route with credentials!

The official guide breaks the route into sections starting at Wallsend, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Chollerford, Steel Rigg, Walton, Carlisle and finishing at Bowness-on-Solway, making the walk a six-day hike. Apart from the absorbing history of the Wall, Hadrian and the Roman occupation, the journey offers diverse and often spectacular landscapes. Starting amidst the urban bustle of Tyneside the walker is soon transported to wild and beautiful scenery where solitude can be found in which to quietly reflect on nature and human history. The walk finishes in the very different landscape, a wetland of remote saltmarsh and mudflats teeming with wildfowl on the Solway Firth.

The walk sections are:
Wallsend to Heddon-on-the-Wall - 15 miles
Heddon-on-the-Wall to Chollerford - 15.25 miles
Chollerford to Steel Rigg - 12 miles
Steel Rigg to Walton - 16.25 miles
Walton to Carlisle - 11 miles
Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway - 14.25 miles

The official guide for the long distance walker or the weekend stroller contains an excellent introduction to the history of the wall. All you need is this one book. It contains the entire route split into six convenient day-walk sections; 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey maps for each section, marked with points of special interest; walks to and from major archaeological sites off the main route; route information on each section, with colour photographs and notes on nearby features; background information on archaeology, local history, wildlife, geology, industry and land use; details of public transport, villages on or near the route with facilities for walkers, useful organisations and accommodation.