5 Day / 4 Night: Wallsend to Bowness

Your walk begins at Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend. You follow the line of the Wall west through Newcastle's eastern suburbs, crossing the Tyne via the Millennium Bridge, passing through the city centre, and climbing to the hilltop village of Heddon-on-the-Wall — home to one of the best-preserved Wall sections in the east. Your first night is in or near Heddon.

A long and varied day taking you from Heddon west through the Tyne Valley. The route passes through Corbridge and its Roman town before reaching Chollerford and Chesters Roman Fort. Beyond Chollerford the path climbs dramatically onto the Whin Sill. You'll pass Housesteads — the most complete fort on the Wall — as the crags carry you through Northumberland National Park to Once Brewed. Your second night is near Steel Rigg or Once Brewed.

A shorter day through the finest scenery on the route. The path continues along the Whin Sill crags from Steel Rigg, passing Cawfields and Milecastle 42, before descending west towards the Irthing valley. You'll walk through Walltown Crags and past Thirlwall Castle before arriving at Gilsland. Birdoswald Roman Fort, just a short walk away, has the longest surviving stretch of original Wall curtain.

The walk changes character as you cross the Irthing and enter Cumbria. The high crags give way to rolling farmland as the path heads west through Banks, Newtown, and Crosby-on-Eden into Carlisle. The Roman city of Luguvallium has a castle, cathedral, and Tullie House Museum with an outstanding collection of Wall artefacts. Your fourth night is in Carlisle.

The final day follows the Solway Plain west from Carlisle to the coast. The path crosses flat pastoral countryside with wide views across the Solway Firth to the Scottish hills. You finish at Bowness-on-Solway, where a modest stone marks the western end of the trail. The Kings Arms in the village provides a well-deserved celebration.

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

**End 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.

**Physical grade:** Strenuous. Day 2 is a very long day with significant ascent. You should be comfortable walking 20+ miles in a day with a light pack.

**Best months:** May to September.