Hadrian’s Wall Path – Walking the Boundaries of the Roman Empire Across Northern England

Hadrian’s Wall Path Thru-Hike

From Roman Frontiers to the Solway Coast: A Final Journey Across the UK

After walking Wainwright’s Coast to Coast, the Pennine Way, the West Highland Way, and the Great Glen Way, we thought our legs couldn’t carry us any farther. But with five days remaining before we boarded the Queen Mary 2 to return across the Atlantic, we felt the call to cross England one more time - this time on the Hadrian’s Wall National Trail.

The 135-kilometre route follows the line of the northernmost boundary of the Roman Empire, from Wallsend on the River Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway on the Irish Sea. Built in 122 AD, Hadrian’s Wall once stretched coast to coast as a symbol of Roman might and strategy. Today, the trail offers a journey through 2,000 years of layered history, unfolding across countryside, crags, cities, and sheep fields.

We walked it east to west, from coast to coast, tracing the wall’s rise and fall through fort ruins, turrets, valleys, and vibrant communities. This was not a quiet trail - nor was it a perfect one - but it was a powerful end to our time in the UK.

Why Walk Hadrian’s Wall?

• World Heritage Site: Walk along the UNESCO-designated frontier of the Roman Empire.
• Historic Immersion: Explore milecastles, forts, and Roman roads across the English countryside.
• Diverse Landscapes: Urban paths, farmland, limestone crags, and coastal estuaries all in one trail.
• Cross-UK Completion: Our third and final crossing of England and Scotland in a single season.
• Organic Ties: Passes through Wallsend, birthplace of the RMS Carpathia, linking to our Cunard crossings aboard the Queen Mary 2.

Trail Details

• Origin: Wallsend, Newcastle Upon Tyne (North Sea)
• Destination: Bowness-on-Solway (Irish Sea)
• Distance: ~135 km / ~84 miles
• Time Required: 6–10 days (we completed in just over 4)
• Best Seasons: April to October
• Terrain: Paved urban walks, muddy pastureland, rolling hills, Roman escarpments, and coastal roads
• Highlights: Heddon-on-the-Wall, Vindolanda, Housesteads, Birdoswald, Carlisle Cathedral, Bowness Marshes

Our Walking Itinerary and Stages

Due to limited time, we combined multiple stages each day. While most hikers take 6–8 days, we completed the route in 5 demanding and rain-soaked ones.

About Hadrian’s Wall Path

Beginning Hadrian’s Wall National Trail : Wallsend to Robin Hood Inn

Northern Frontier of the Roman Empire : Robin Hood Inn to Twice Brewed

Uncertain Weather on a Tourist Trail : Twice Brewed to Walton

Medieval History and Modern Cities : Walton to Carlisle

Final day on Hadrian’s Wall : Carlisle to Bowness-On-Solway                                                    

Reflecting on our Hike along Hadrian’s Wall Path

Reflections from the Wall

There is a unique thrill to placing your hand on a stone that has been set by Roman soldiers 2,000 years ago, and a deeper humility in walking the same route used by empires, pilgrims, and modern-day hikers alike.

We saw more history than we could absorb: from milecastles and turrets to Roman baths and forts, each set against a backdrop of misty crags and wind-battered moor. But we also encountered muddy trail diversions, missing signage, and a surprising mix of over-touristed towns and remote solitude.

Some of the best-preserved sections - like Housesteads, Planetrees, and the escarpments around Steel Rigg - rewarded every muddy step. Others, like Vindolanda and Birdoswald, reminded us that time on a trail isn’t the same as time in a place.

This wasn’t a peaceful pilgrimage. It was a test of endurance, expectation, and perspective - a mirror held up not just to history but to ourselves. And maybe that’s what frontiers are for.

Completing the Arc: From Trail to Sea

With the Hadrian’s Wall Path complete, we had now crossed England and Scotland three times on foot during this single journey. From the shores of St. Bees to the cliffs of Robin Hood’s Bay, across the Highlands and down through Northumberland, this last hike closed the land-based arc of our UK travels.

And then we re-boarded the Queen Mary 2, turned westward, and began the slow voyage home.

This trail joins our growing collection of slow journeys:

• Long-distance walks like the Trans Canada Trail, Bruce Trail, and East Coast Trail
• Rail odysseys on VIA Rail’s Canadian and Ocean
• Transatlantic crossings aboard the QM2 and Wind Surf

From Rome’s edge to the edge of the Irish Sea, from forts to fields, from crumbling stone to open sky - Hadrian’s Wall reminded us that even endings can be beginnings.

See you on the Trail!