Experiences
Hadrian's Wall: how to walk the northern frontier of the Roman Empire
A wall right across northern England, Roman forts and a path over rolling hills. How to experience Hadrian's Wall, and where to stay along the wall and in Newcastle.
The wall follows the top of a crag, and on the north side the ground falls away steeply to a small lake. Roman soldiers stood here almost two thousand years ago looking north. Today you walk a path beside the stones, with only sheep for company.
Hadrian's Wall was built on the orders of Emperor Hadrian from AD 122 and runs right across northern England. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the path beside it is one of Britain's best-known long-distance walks. Here is how to experience it.
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How to walk the Hadrian's Wall Path
The path runs from Wallsend near Newcastle to Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast. Most people take six to seven days for the full route, but you can also do day walks on the best sections.
Best section: the central stretch between Chollerford and Gilsland, with the wall along the crags.
Bus: the AD122 summer bus runs along the wall, so you can walk a stage and ride back.
Respect: walk beside the wall, not on top of it.
Book the experience: See tours and activities in northern England
The forts and sites to see
The remains of forts, milecastles and camps line the wall.
Housesteads
The best-preserved fort sits on a ridge with views across the landscape. You can see the foundations of barracks, granaries and latrines.
Vindolanda
Vindolanda lies just south of the wall, and wooden writing tablets with letters from soldiers and their families have been found here. Excavations are still going on.
Steel Rigg and Sycamore Gap
The stretch west of Housesteads follows the crags. At Sycamore Gap a famous tree stood in a dip in the wall until it was felled in 2023, and the spot is still a popular stop.
Where to stay near Hadrian's Wall
Stay along the wall to walk early, or in Newcastle for city life and transport links.
Langley Castle Hotel
Langley Castle is a medieval castle in Northumberland, a short drive from the best sections of the wall. You sleep behind thick stone walls.
Book your stay: See rooms at Langley Castle Hotel
Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
A country house with a spa.
Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
Matfen Hall is a country house near the wall, with a golf course and a spa. Good for resting after a day on the path.
Book your stay: See rooms at Matfen Hall Hotel, Golf and Spa
Hotel du Vin & Bistro Newcastle
By the river in Newcastle.
Hotel du Vin & Bistro Newcastle
Hotel du Vin is in Newcastle, by the River Tyne. Handy for starting the path at Wallsend and for onward trains.
Book your stay: See rooms at Hotel du Vin & Bistro Newcastle
Lumley Castle Hotel
A castle hotel near Durham.
Lumley Castle Hotel
Lumley Castle is near Chester-le-Street, between Newcastle and Durham. A castle hotel that pairs well with a visit to Durham.
Book your stay: See rooms at Lumley Castle Hotel
When is the best time to walk Hadrian's Wall?
May to September: the season for the path. The bus along the wall runs in summer.
Spring and autumn: fewer people, but muddy stretches.
Winter: the path is fragile when wet, and walking it in the summer half of the year is recommended.
Hadrian's Wall FAQ
How long is Hadrian's Wall?
The wall runs right across northern England, from Wallsend near Newcastle to the Solway Firth in the west.
How long does the walk take?
Most people take six to seven days for the full path.
Which section is best?
The central stretch between Chollerford and Gilsland, with Housesteads and Steel Rigg.
Can I do day walks?
Yes, and the summer bus makes it easy to walk a stage and ride back.
Where should I stay?
Along the wall for the walks, or in Newcastle for transport and city life.