5 Day / 4 Night: Bowness to Wallsend

Your walk begins at the stone marking the western end of the National Trail in Bowness-on-Solway. The path crosses the Solway Plain east through flat pastoral countryside with wide views across the estuary to Scotland. Some stretches near the shore can be tidal. You arrive in Carlisle — the Roman city of Luguvallium — in the afternoon. The castle, cathedral, and Tullie House Museum are all close to your overnight accommodation.

A long day heading east out of Carlisle through Cumbrian farmland. The path passes through Crosby-on-Eden, Newtown, and Banks before arriving at the village of Gilsland in the Irthing valley. Birdoswald Roman Fort, with the longest surviving stretch of original Wall curtain, is worth a visit on arrival.

Day 3 is shorter in distance but dramatic in character. Leaving Gilsland, the path crosses the River Irthing and begins to climb onto the Whin Sill. The crags build progressively as you head east — Walltown, Cawfields, Milecastle 42 — before the high point of the day near Housesteads Roman Fort, the most atmospheric site on the Wall. You finish at Once Brewed in the heart of Northumberland National Park.

From Steel Rigg the crags continue east past Housesteads and along the switchback ridgeline with sweeping views in every direction. The path descends gradually from the Whin Sill to the North Tyne river at Chollerford, where Chesters Roman Fort sits on the east bank — one of the best-preserved cavalry forts anywhere on the Wall. Your fourth night is in the Chollerford or Hexham area.

A long final day through the Tyne Valley to the coast. The path passes through Corbridge and its Roman town before following the north bank of the Tyne east through open farmland. You'll reach Heddon-on-the-Wall, then continue through Newcastle's western suburbs, crossing the Tyne via the Millennium Bridge. The trail ends at Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend — a well-earned finish on the east coast.

## What's included

- Four nights' accommodation in selected B&Bs and guesthouses - Luggage transfer each walking day - Comprehensive pre-departure information pack - Step-by-step route notes for each day - 1:25,000 OS maps for each section - GPX files for phone or GPS device - 24/7 on-trip support phone number - Welcome information and practical tips

## Practical notes

**Start point:** Bowness-on-Solway, CA7 5AX. A seasonal bus service connects Bowness to Carlisle (approximately 30 minutes), from where there are frequent trains to Newcastle, Edinburgh, and London.

**End point:** Segedunum Roman Fort, Wallsend, NE28 6HR. The nearest train station is Wallsend Metro (Tyne and Wear Metro, change at Central Station for mainline trains).

**Physical grade:** Strenuous. Days 2 and 5 are very long. You should be comfortable walking 20+ miles in a day.

**Best months:** May to September.