The Hadrian’s Wall Path Hike

Hadrian's Wall Path follows the line of the Roman frontier across the narrowest point of northern England — 84 miles from Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast to Wallsend on the east, broadly tracking the wall itself for most of its length. Built between AD 122 and AD 130, it's the most substantial Roman remains in Britain and one of the most evocative things you can walk in the UK.

What to expect

Six to eight days of walking, with the wall most visible (and the path most dramatic) through the central section between Brampton and Chollerford. There the path climbs over the Whin Sill escarpment past Sycamore Gap and the major forts of Vindolanda and Housesteads. The eastern and western ends are gentler — riverside and farmland walking — and the wall itself is intermittent.

Practical notes

Best walked April through October to minimise damage to the underlying archaeology; the path is sometimes closed to walkers in winter to let the ground recover. Accommodation is plentiful in the central section but spread out at either end. Most people walk east to west to keep the prevailing weather behind them, though the iconic central views are slightly better when walked the other way. Day-trippers can pick off the best central 10 miles from Once Brewed.