Hadrian's Wall Walking Routes

Getting around Hadrian's Wall

There is no doubt that walking in Hadrian’s Wall Country is a real pleasure with the area boasting an incredible amount of historic sites, both Roman and non-Roman, as well as spectacular landscapes. Unfortunately, the vast majority of visitors to Hadrian’s Wall choose to walk solely along the line of the wall, missing out the superb circular walks to the north and south of the Roman Wall.

Below you will find details of 7 circular walking routes along and close to the line of Hadrian’s Wall. All of the walks take you through some of the finest landscapes of northern England as well as giving you the chance to discover a less well known view of this incredible feat of Roman engineering. Details of refreshment stops are also included.

• Wylam to Prudhoe

• Corbridge Roman Town

• Chesters and Humshaugh

• A "barbarian" view

• Once Brewed, Vindolanda & Housesteads

• Cawfields to Caw Gap

• Haltwhistle to Cawfields

Walking Hadrian’s Wall essentials

Below you will find details of how you can walk Hadrian’s Wall whilst helping to preserve the unique archaeology beneath your feet.

Hadrian’s Wall Walkers Passport

In order to minimise the risk of damage and erosion the National Trail project uses its very popular walkers’ passport scheme to influence its long-distance users towards walking the Trail during the drier months of the year. Walkers can collect their passport stamps from many the major sites of Hadrian’s Wall between the 1st May and the 31st October. You can collect your passport from the local Tourist Information Centres.

Every Footstep Counts

The Every Footstep Counts initiative was devised by the Trail in partnership with all of the projects and organisations associated with the World Heritage Site. It suggests tips on how visitors can help us to look after the Wall for them and future generations:

• Start and finish your walk along the Wall at different places, or follow a circular route. This way there will be half as much wear on the path next to the Wall.
• Use public transport, including the Hadrian's Wall Bus, wherever you can.
• You can support the people living and working in the World Heritage Site by staying nearby whenever you can and using shops, restaurants and pubs in the area.
• Take any litter away with you and never light fires.
• Never climb up or walk on top of Hadrian's Wall.
• During the wet winter months the ground is waterlogged and this is when the risk of damage to the monument is greatest. Instead you could walk one of the alternative circular walks close by.
• Close all gates behind you unless it is clear that the farmer needs the gate to be left open.
• Stick to the path signed from the road with coloured arrows.
• Help to take pressure off the Wall itself by visiting a Roman fort as part of the journey. They all have visitor facilities and will tell you all about the Roman life and times.
• Always keep your dog under close control. If a farm animal chases you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead.
• When walking on parts of the Trail which have a grass surface, if possible walk side by side rather than single file. This helps to keep the grass surface intact (this is the layer which protects any buried archaeology).
• When the Trail was being designed, the basic rule of thumb was to avoid as many of the lumps and bumps as possible because they could be buried archaeology. So, please avoid walking on the lumps, bumps and grassy ridges.
• Please don’t walk or climb on Hadrian’s Wall. The legal right of way is on the ground alongside the Wall and there is the added risk of injury from tripping on the uneven surface. Please do your bit to help conserve the Wall for future generations by admiring it from alongside.
• Thank you!

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