This guided walking holiday offers the best of Hadrian’s Wall as a linear walk from west to east. It begins where the wall becomes increasingly more visible and takes in the best preserved highlights of the wall along the way. We walk the main section of the wall that contains such gems as the forts at Birdoswald, Housesteads and Chesters. We also walk past Sycamore Gap where Robin Hood’s tree used to stand proud in a dip in the landscape.

We will be based in Haltwhistle throughout our journey, staying at the very comfortable Centre of Britain Hotel, known for its friendly hospitality and spacious accommodation. It is a truly wonderful place to return to each evening after our walk.

Itinerary (subject to change)

Day 1 Arrive at the hotel from 2pm and join your guide for an orientation briefing at 6.30pm followed by dinner

Day 2 Newtown to Birdoswald – 8.5 miles / 260m ascent/ 5 hours
Travel to Newtown where we start our journey eastwards. The path cuts through beautiful rolling countryside on its way to Birdoswald Fort. There are earth-covered remains of the wall en route plus the more substantial footrpints of various turret houses and a signal post evocative of times gone by. Birdoswalk Fort itself is Cumbria’s principal Roman Wall exhibition fort giving a remarkable sense of life along the Roman frontier. It certainly makes a fitting end to our first day’s walking.

Day 3 Birdoswald to Steel Rigg – 10 miles / 615m ascent/ 6 hours
From Birdoswald we enter perhaps the most stunning section of the wall with notable stretches of visible standing wall and the jagged hills formed by the hard volcanic rock known as Whin Sill. If you have seen photographs of Hadrian’s Wall then this is most likely the section featured. Today’s walk ends at The Sill, National Landscape Discovery Centre where we will take time to learn about the landscape.

Day 4 Steel Rigg to Chollerford – 12 miles / 510m ascent / 7 hours
Today’s walk starts with the most popular section of the wall leading to Housesteads Roman Fort. The path undulates as it follows the shape of the land before levelling off on our way eastwards to Chollerford. There are wonderful views to north and south from the high points plus a fine selection of milecastle and turret remains.

Day 5 An optional shorter walk from Vindolanda Roman Fort to the long stone above which gives stunning views over to Hadrian’s Wall and the path that we have followed over the last few days. Afterwards, there is the option to visit Vindolanda itself. We aim to finish the walk by midday.

• Price
• Grade
• Accommodation
• Guide
• Travel

£920 Single Occupancy Ensuite £100 per person discount if you are happy to share a twin ensuite. The rooms are spacious and ideal for sharing. Price includes: 4 nights full board accommodation; transport to walks Not included: travel to Haltwhistle; insurance; drinks and personal expenses; optional entrance to forts

The walks on this holiday are mainly moderate in grade with the last full day being a little longer at 12 miles. As it is a linear walk from point to point, a reasonable level of fitness is required to complete each day. Some pre-holiday preparation would come in useful.

We stay at the very comfortable and welcoming 3 star Centre of Britain Hotel on a full board basis.

Your guide for this holiday is Rachel Bolton, a fabulous leader who is compassionate and flexible. Rachel is a very safe pair of hands and a qualified Mountain Leader, a member of the Mountain Training Association and the British Mountaineering Council. She is passionalte about the outdoors and has extensive knowledge of the Lake District, Scotland and the Peak Dsitrict in particular. She holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and worked with children as a teacher and headteacher for nearly 30 years. She is also a qualified Alexander Technique teacher. Rachel is passionate about being in the outdoors walking, scrambling, winter mountaineering and climbing. She is currently working towards her Winter Mountain Leader qualification.

By Train: The nearest station is at Haltwhistle, only a few minutes walk away from the hotel. It is on the main Carlisle / Newcastle line and trains run every hour. By Road: Situated on A69 Newcastle to Carlisle road. Turn off following signs for Haltwhistle. The hotel is situated on the Main Street near to the Market Square. ​