Itinerary:      

q        Day 1 Whitley Bay: Travel to Newcastle and then onto Whitley Bay. If you have time you will be able to take the Metro back into the city to have a look round this vibrant “Toon.”

q        Day 2 Whitley Bay to Wylam / Heddon on the Wall 15 Miles (24km):  Today you take the short train (metro) from Whitley Bay to Wallsend and the start of the walk (15 mins, not included). If you have time before setting off on your days walk take a close look at the remains of the Roman fort of Segedunum which marks the beginning of the route today. This is a multi award-winning site, with reconstructions of a Roman Bath House and an excellent interactive museum. From the Tourist information in Wallsend, by the Swan Hunter Ship Yard, the trail heads out following the walls of the ancient Roman fort of Segedunum. Take the old Tyne to Blyth railway line (now a footpath) through to Walker where you join the River Tyne at the Riverside Park and pass Byker. You come into the riverside area of downtown Newcastle upon Tyne with vistas of the elegant Tyne Bridges and of the Newcastle skyline including St. Nicholas Cathedral. There should be time to climb up to Newcastle Keep. Walk out of the city along side the river. There is plenty of evidence of present and former industrial activity. As you get to the old village of Newburn, the countryside really begins to open up at last. You are now in the county of Northumberland. Just before you would cross the River Tyne for Heddon On the Wall,  on the trail, we turn off for Wylam and our overnight stop at the end of this flattish day.

q        Day 3 Wylam to HumsHaugh 16.5 miles: After crossing over the River Tyne, you have your first steep ascent up to Heddon on the Wall, where there are some wall remains. To beyond Chollerford now, the National Trail follows beside the roads that have been built over part of the wall. The wall became itself a source of material for the foundations of General Wade’s military road, the trail though often follows along the Vallum, the ancient ditch line created as a defensive feature when the wall was built.  Look out for remains of Vindobala fort and the reservoirs around Welton. There is a pub at East Wallhouses after about 6 miles. A slight deviation to Halton after 9 miles might be in order to admire the old keep.

q        Day 4: Humshaugh to Housesteads (Once brewed) 12 miles (19.3 km) the route follows beside the road as far as Fozy Moss, where the road veers off the wall as it reaches the crags of the Whin Sill Escarpment. Our stage roller coasters to Housesteads, with its famed fort and National Trust Museum. There are excellent views over the “Northward Tynescape” to the Bellingham and Simonside Hills. Now follows arguably the most scenic section of the trip; over Highshield crags and then down via Peel Crags to the National Park car park at Steel Rigg. From here you can walk out to accommodation at Once Brewed.

Day 5:  Once Brewed to Lanercost / Banks 13 Miles

The wall climbs to its highest point over Windshields Crags, before descending to the delightfully named Bogle hole. Then downsteps through Thorny Doors and up Cawfields Crags with excellent views onto the Pennines. The way passes by Great Chesters and Magnis (Roman forts), passing Greenhead, the ruin of mediaeval Thirlwall castle and in another mile or so crosses the Cumbria / Northumberland border on the River Irthing at Gilsand. There are Interesting Roman defences to visit at Birdoswald, and eventually after a trek to Banks you will find a shop / Post office.  You turn off here for the last mile or so to the little hamlet of Lannercost and our country Inn.

q        Day 6: Lannercost to Carlisle 13 miles The route continues undulating across country,  reaching the little village of Walton, where a pint might  be in order. After crossing the very attractive Cam beck, you briefly join the road at Newtown Village near the green before skipping across the fields. Here you are following the wall line via Old wall, Blea head and Wall head farms, before detouring on a little “sandy Lane” that takes you down to The Stanegate, the old Roman road that leads into Crosby on Eden and the river Eden. Now you will be riverside walking for about a mile. At Linstock there is a Mediaeval  Pele, Peel Tower that rang in times of danger so that the locals could congregate  within its fortifications. Next we come to  Rickerby which  has, in contrast,  a Victorian  folly tower. Finally we cross the River Eden, wind round the river meander towards Stanwix, then up into Carlisle - a very interesting historical city, with a castle started by Henry I, extensive wall and other Roman remains and then there is the Cathedral. The town has changed hands several times between Scotland and England and this is reflected in parts of the town’s structure.

Carlisle is quite a bit smaller than Newcastle. A lot of the buildings such as the castle and the Old Town Hall are made of fine red sandstone. Beer fans will not want to miss out a couple of drams, as this is the centre for the Theakstone’s Brewery. Visit the Tullie House Museum for a fine collection of Roman remains. The inner city has been pedestrianised making exploration enjoyable around the market square.

q        Day 7: Carlisle to Bowness on Solway 15 miles. As you have a second night in your hotel in Carlisle, the final walk today can be done in either direction. Most efficiently take a scheduled bus  (at own expense) at around 09:00 to Bowness On Solway and walk back to Carlisle, or just check the timetables and walk to Bowness and then bus or taxi back. The walk itself from Carlisle follows the at first the Southern side of the River Eden. The trail follows the Eden once again, more or less parallel with the line of the Wall and Vallum, through Grinsdale and Beaumont where you at last veer away from the Eden. You get good views from just north of the village to the peaks of Skiddaw and High Pike to the south and across the Solway Firth to the West. Through Burgh by Sands, a short detour takes you to the point on the marsh where Edward I died in 1307. In the vicinity of Dykesfield House, the trail joins an old railway embankment for a couple of miles before rejoining the line of “The Wall” near Glasson. From here the route follows the minor road to Bowness on Solway, the site of the Roman fort of Maia and journey’s end.

q        Day 8: Depart Carlisle After breakfast.

Accommodation

The accommodation on this tour may vary with availability at certain times, however we include a good range from guesthouses and small hotels. Ensuite bedrooms are normal, but cannot be guaranteed. In Whitley Bay the hotel sits on the promenade overlooking its golden sands.

In Wylam we stay in a homely guesthouse with ensuite. At HumsHaugh, located only half a mile from the wall, is a welcoming working farm which offers magnificent views of Northumberland. At Housesteads, half a mile north of the wall, there is a beautiful farm accommodation with vast views across the moors. Our attractive Inn at Lannercost is close to the ancient bridge and priory. It has ensuite rooms, a nice bar and a drying room. Finally we have two nights in a friendly small hotel in Carlisle, close to the centre.

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