Dates: May 8-16, 2027
Walk across northern England following the path of one of the Roman Empire’s greatest engineering feats.
We’ll journey coast to coast along Hadrian’s Wall Path, walking from the River Tyne near Newcastle to the shores of the Solway Firth.
Along the way, we’ll explore remarkably preserved Roman forts and archaeological sites, walk through rolling farmland and open moorland, and experience the changing landscapes of northern England on foot.
Sometimes Hadrian’s Wall stands boldly against the landscape, stretching across ridges and hillsides.
Other times, it disappears beneath the grass, its story revealed through ruins, archaeological sites and the communities that grew up around it.
We’ll visit places such as Vindolanda, Chesters Roman Fort and Birdoswald, walk through Northumberland National Park, discover the continuing story of Sycamore Gap, and eventually watch the landscape open onto the wide skies and tidal flats of the Solway Firth.
But this adventure is about more than Roman history — and more than simply walking from one side of England to the other.
It’s an opportunity to slow down, spend time outdoors, and experience a part of England that many travelers never see.
We’ll walk through villages and countryside, share meals and stories, and experience the camaraderie that comes from taking on a journey like this together.
And at the end?
We’ll be able to say we walked across England.
If you love history, beautiful landscapes, time outdoors and exploring at a slower pace, this is an unforgettable way to experience northern England — one step at a time.
Important to know:
Other things to know:
Meet your guide at your hotel in Newcastle at noon and get to know your fellow travelers over a relaxed lunch as we talk through the journey ahead.
This afternoon, we’ll take the Metro to Wallsend and Segedunum Roman Fort, once the eastern end of Hadrian’s Wall.
Here, we’ll begin peeling back the layers of history along this remarkable route, from the Romans to the area’s later coal-mining and shipbuilding heritage.
After stamping our Hadrian’s Wall passports, it’s time to officially begin our coast-to-coast walk!
We’ll follow the first miles of the Hadrian’s Wall Path from Wallsend, walking through the urban landscape of Newcastle and beginning to see how the history of the Wall is woven into the places and communities that grew around it.
A short transfer takes us back to our hotel, where we’ll enjoy dinner together and settle in for the night.
Overnight: Newcastle — Hotel Indigo
Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 4 miles / 6km, appx 2 hours
Please note: Pre-night(s) available upon request
After a short transfer back to yesterday’s finish point, we’ll continue west through Newcastle, following the Hadrian’s Wall Path toward the countryside.
Much of today’s walk follows the River Tyne, with relatively gentle terrain that gives us a chance to settle into our stride on our first full day of walking.
While this section of the route is more urban, it’s all part of the experience of walking the complete Hadrian’s Wall Path from coast to coast.
As we leave Newcastle behind, the landscape gradually begins to change before we reach Heddon-on-the-Wall.
This small village is home to one of the longest surviving sections of Hadrian’s Wall built to its original broad width — our first chance to see a substantial stretch of the Wall itself.
From Heddon-on-the-Wall, we’ll transfer back to Newcastle for our final evening in the city and raise a glass to completing our first full day on the trail.
Overnight: Newcastle — Hotel Indigo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Walk Details: 11 miles / 8km, apprx 8 hours
After breakfast, a short transfer takes us to Wall Houses, where we’ll pick up the Hadrian’s Wall Path and continue our journey west.
Today brings a noticeable change in scenery as we leave the urban landscape behind and walk through rolling farmland and open countryside.
Quiet lanes, hedgerows and pockets of woodland accompany us along the way, while fragments of the Wall and other traces of the Roman frontier begin appearing in the landscape.
Keep an eye out for some of the wildlife that calls this countryside home, including lapwings and brown hares.
At Planetrees, we’ll encounter one of the first substantial sections of Hadrian’s Wall before continuing toward Chollerford.
Along the way, we’ll also visit St. Oswald’s Church, near the site where King Oswald of Northumbria is traditionally believed to have raised a wooden cross before battle in the 7th century.
At the end of our walk, a short transfer takes us to the historic market town of Hexham, where we’ll settle into our hotel for the evening.
Overnight: Hexham — The Beaumont Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 8 miles / 13km, appx 4 hours
Today is one of the longer — and most iconic — days of our coast-to-coast journey.
We’ll begin with a visit to Chesters Roman Fort, where we’ll get a fascinating look at life along the Roman frontier and the cavalry soldiers once stationed here.
From Chesters, we continue west as Hadrian’s Wall begins to reveal itself in earnest.
Turrets, milecastles and long stretches of stonework appear across an increasingly dramatic landscape as we walk deeper into Hadrian’s Wall country.
Later in the day, we’ll reach Sycamore Gap, one of the most recognizable places along the Wall.
The beloved sycamore tree that stood here for generations was felled in an act of vandalism in 2023.
But its story may not be over.
New shoots have emerged from the base of the stump, and conservationists are allowing them to grow while they watch to see how the tree regenerates.
We’ll have a chance to see for ourselves how nature is reclaiming this famous spot.
Our walk finishes at Once Brewed — a place name I absolutely love — before we settle in for the night at the nearby Twice Brewed Inn.
And yes, I love that name too!
After 13 miles on the trail, I think we’ll have earned that locally brewed pint.
Overnight: Bardon Mill — Twice Brewed Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Walk Details: 13 miles / 21km, approx 8 hours
We’ll begin the day at Vindolanda, one of Britain’s most remarkable Roman archaeological sites.
Vindolanda was occupied for centuries, both before and during the construction of Hadrian’s Wall.
And the discoveries made here offer an extraordinary glimpse into everyday life on the Roman frontier.
Among its most famous finds are the Vindolanda writing tablets — handwritten letters, lists and personal messages that bring the people who lived here nearly 2,000 years ago to life in a surprisingly personal way.
Wow!
Then it’s back to the Hadrian’s Wall Path as we make our way west through Northumberland National Park.
This is some of the most dramatic walking of our journey, with the Wall rising and falling across open ridges and moorland and reaching its highest surviving point along the way.
We’ll pass King Arthur’s Turret and have plenty of opportunities to stop, take in the views and appreciate just how vast this landscape feels.
Before finishing our day, we’ll visit the Roman Army Museum for another perspective on the soldiers who lived and served along this northern frontier.
After approximately nine miles of walking, we’ll transfer back to the Twice Brewed Inn for our second night.
And another pint!
Overnight: Bardon Mill — Twice Brewed Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Walk Details: 9 miles / 15km, apprx 6 hours
After breakfast, we’ll return to Gilsland and continue west along the Hadrian’s Wall Path on another day filled with Roman history and beautiful countryside.
One of our first fascinating sights is the remains of Willowford Roman Bridge.
The bridge once carried Hadrian’s Wall across the River Irthing, but as the river gradually changed course over the centuries, the Roman remains were left standing on dry land.
Today we’ll make our own crossing of the Irthing via a modern footbridge.
From here, we continue toward Birdoswald Roman Fort, dramatically positioned above the river and alongside the longest continuous stretch of Hadrian’s Wall still standing today.
Once home to a garrison of more than 800 Roman soldiers, Birdoswald gives us another opportunity to imagine what life might have been like along this frontier nearly 2000 years ago.
We’ll continue through the countryside toward Newtown, where our walking day comes to an end.
A short transfer takes us to The Fleece at Ruleholme in Irthington for dinner and a well-earned evening off our feet.
Overnight: Irthington — The Fleece at Ruleholme
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Walk Details: 11 miles / 17km, apprx 8 hours
Today we set out on the penultimate walking day of our coast-to-coast journey as we make our way from Newtown toward Carlisle.
The landscape changes once again as we walk through wide meadows and farmland, with Hadrian’s Wall gradually disappearing back into the earth.
Although there may be less of the Wall to see, we’re still following its route west and continuing the story we began nearly a week ago in Newcastle.
As we approach Carlisle, countryside gives way to riverside paths leading us toward the city.
Keep an eye out for waterfowl and other wildlife along the way.
Once in Carlisle, we’ll have time to explore two of the city’s most important historic sites: Carlisle Cathedral and Carlisle Castle — which I visited in 2026.
It’s quite impressive!
After spending much of our journey immersed in Roman history, this is a chance to discover some of the later chapters in the story of northern England.
At the end of the day, we’ll transfer back to The Fleece at Ruleholme for dinner and our final night there before tomorrow’s last stretch to the coast.
Overnight: Irthington — The Fleece at Ruleholme
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Walk Details: 10 miles / 16km, apprx 6 hours
Today we walk to the sea!
Our final — and longest — walking day takes us west from Carlisle toward the Solway Coast National Landscape and the end of our coast-to-coast journey.
Following the River Eden, we’ll walk through quiet villages, farmland and an increasingly coastal landscape as we make our way toward the Solway Firth.
As the water opens up ahead of us, tidal flats and wide skies replace the rolling countryside of the previous days.
This is also an important area for birdlife, so keep an eye out for curlew, oystercatchers and other birds that make their home along the Solway.
And across the water, we may even catch glimpses of the hills of Scotland.
You know I’ll be looking!
Finally, after 14 miles of walking, we’ll arrive in Bowness-on-Solway — the western end of Hadrian’s Wall Path.
From Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway.
From the River Tyne to the Solway Firth.
We’ve walked across England!
Tonight we’ll celebrate what we’ve accomplished with dinner, plenty of shared stories and, of course, a well-deserved toast.
Overnight: Warwick Hall
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Walk details: 14 miles / 23km, apprx 8 hours
After a leisurely breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to northern England — and to the fellow travelers who have shared this coast-to-coast journey with us.
We’ll transfer to Carlisle Railway Station for your onward travels, taking with us plenty of memories, stories and perhaps a few tired legs after walking all the way across England!
Meals Included: Breakfast
Please note: Post night accommodation available upon request
