6-Day Hadrian's Wall Path Route Itinerary — Explorer Pace

Begin at Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum in Wallsend, with its excavated remains and reconstructed bath house. Follow the flat, paved Riverside Path along the north bank of the Tyne past the former Swan Hunter shipyard and beneath Newcastle's iconic bridges, with the Quayside offering plenty of refreshment options. Continue through Tyne Riverside Country Park, where The Keelman pub and Big Lamp Brewery provide a welcome break, before the path leaves the river and climbs steeply toward Heddon-on-the-Wall, opening up expansive views back across the Tyne Valley. Heddon rewards you with your first significant Roman remains — a well-preserved 2-metre section of wall beside the Swan Inn.

Leave Heddon and follow the line of the Military Road (B6318), built atop Hadrian's Wall in the eighteenth century. The terrain is mostly level farmland with gentle undulations and views opening northward toward the Cheviot Hills. Pass Harlow Hill, where a public water tap stands outside the village hall, then East Wallhouses where the Robin Hood Inn offers refreshments and summer outdoor seating. Continuing west, you cross Port Gate roundabout — the site of a Roman gateway through the Stanegate — before reaching St Oswald's Church and Heavenfield, marked by a wooden cross with panoramic views. Pause at Planetrees to see both broad and narrow wall construction, then descend into the village of Wall.

From Wall, a short road section leads to Chollerford via Brunton Turret. Cross the River North Tyne and pass Chesters Roman Fort with its remarkably preserved bathhouse. The path climbs steadily through Walwick and past Black Carts Turret to Limestone Corner, where massive uncut stones abandoned by Roman builders still lie in situ. Continue to Brocolitia Fort and its Mithraeum temple before the landscape changes dramatically at the Great Whin Sill. Ascend Sewingshields Crags and follow the undulating ridge to Housesteads (Vercovicium), the most complete Roman fort on the wall. Beyond, pass Sycamore Gap and Highshield Crags above Crag Lough before descending at Steel Rigg to Once Brewed and the Twice Brewed Inn.

From Once Brewed, climb back onto the crags and follow undulating terrain to Green Slack and Winshields Crags — at 345 metres the highest point on the entire wall, with spectacular panoramas. Pass Caw Gap and well-preserved Milecastle 42, then drop to Cawfields Quarry. Continue past Great Chesters Fort and along Allolee Ridge to dramatic Walltown Crags, with optional access to the Roman Army Museum. Descend to Greenhead, where the Greenhead Hotel and Tea Room offer refreshments, then cross farmland to Gilsland and the House of Meg tearoom. Beyond, well-preserved wall leads past Birdoswald Roman Fort with its visible granaries and museum. Cross Willowford Bridge and finish at atmospheric Lanercost Priory.

A gentler day. From Lanercost, follow field paths and farm tracks past occasional wall foundations and cross Dovecote Bridge over the River Irthing into Walton, where Florries on the Wall café and the community tearoom provide a welcome stop. The route continues along field boundaries through flat agricultural land, with the earthworks of the vallum occasionally visible, crossing King Water stream toward Newtown. From here the path traverses open farmland with subtle wall earthworks, passing Low Crosby village and The Stag Inn. Continue through Brunstock with glimpses of the River Eden, skirt Rickerby Park, and cross Hadrian's Bridge into Carlisle to explore the medieval castle and Tullie House Museum's Roman collection.

Follow the River Eden west through Carlisle's streets before emerging into open countryside at Beaumont. The terrain becomes notably flat across the Solway Marsh, with expansive views toward the Scottish hills across the Solway Firth — though tide times matter, as occasional high tides flood the path near Boustead Hill and Drumburgh. Pass through Burgh-by-Sands with its fortified church built from Roman stones and the King's Arms pub, near a monument to Edward I, who died here in 1307. Continue through Drumburgh, where the Drovers Rest tearoom serves walkers at weekends, and along quiet roads through Port Carlisle with its old canal remains. The final salt-marsh stretch leads to the King's Arms at Bowness-on-Solway.