6 Day / 5 Night: Bowness to Wallsend

Your walk begins at the modest stone marking the western terminus of the trail in Bowness-on-Solway. The path follows the line of the Vallum and Wall east across the flat Solway Plain, with views north to the Scottish hills on clear days. Some stretches near the estuary can be tidal, so timing matters on this first day. You arrive at the village of Burgh-by-Sands, burial place of Edward I, for your first night.

From Burgh-by-Sands the route heads east through rolling Cumbrian farmland. You'll pass through Carlisle — a great opportunity for lunch and a visit to the castle and cathedral — before continuing past Crosby-on-Eden and Newtown. The day ends at the village of Gilsland in the Irthing valley, where Birdoswald Roman Fort, with the longest surviving stretch of original Wall curtain, is well worth an evening visit.

Walking east from Gilsland the route crosses the River Irthing and climbs onto the Whin Sill. This is where the walk transforms dramatically — the crags rise ahead and the Wall begins to run along the high escarpment. You'll pass Walltown Crags and the evocative ruins of Thirlwall Castle before the path reaches Steel Rigg near Once Brewed, in the heart of Northumberland National Park.

The finest day of the walk. The Whin Sill crags continue eastward from Steel Rigg, passing Housesteads (Vercovicium) — the most complete and atmospheric fort on the entire Wall — and the dramatic switchback ridgeline between. Views stretch north to the Cheviot Hills and south to the North Pennines. The path descends gradually from the high ground to the North Tyne river at Chollerford, where Chesters Roman Fort sits beside the water.

Leaving the high central section behind, the path follows the Tyne Valley east through open farmland. You'll pass the attractive market town of Corbridge, with its Roman remains at Corbridge Roman Town. The route climbs to Heddon-on-the-Wall — home to one of the best-preserved sections of Wall in the eastern half of the route. Your fifth night is in or near Heddon.

The final day follows the Wall west through Newcastle's western suburbs, crossing the Tyne via the Millennium Bridge (or the Swing Bridge) with views of the famous Tyne crossings. From Newcastle city centre the path heads east along the Tyne to the finish at Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend — the most easterly point of Hadrian's Wall. A well-earned finish.

## What's included

- Five 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. Taxis from Bowness to Carlisle take around 30 minutes.

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

**Physical grade:** Moderate to strenuous. Day 4 involves significant ascent and descent on the Whin Sill crags. All days involve some uneven ground. You should be comfortable walking for five to six hours per day.

**Best months:** May to September.