Hadrian’s Wall – The Legendary Journey 🏰
Being the only Roman frontier built almost entirely of stone, the Hadrian’s Wall Path is one of England’s most famous long-distance trails. Here, Emma shares her experience of a 6-day walk along the wall – one of the longest journeys she has ever undertaken personally!

Hasnaa, what motivated you to walk along Hadrian’s Wall?

I grew up near Hadrian’s Wall 🏰, a place I’ve visited countless times since I was a child. Even now that I live in Canada 🇨🇦, I love returning whenever I visit my family back home.

So when my friend and I decided to take our first multi-day international hike, Hadrian’s Wall was a very natural choice. Even though my family lives in Carlisle along the wall’s path, and I know the area well, I felt the journey would be less intimidating than somewhere completely new. After walking parts of the wall over the years, I started wondering what it would feel like to walk the entire length from start to finish 👣.

This was the longest hike I’ve ever done in my life – 134 km (84 miles) over 6 days! I wanted to prove to myself that I had the strength to take on a challenge of this scale 💪.

Hasnaa, how did you plan this epic journey?

Planning this trip was divided into two main parts: organizing the logistics—deciding where to start and finish each section of the journey—and physical training for a full week of walking with a heavy backpack 🎒.

The biggest challenge was mostly in the logistics. Finding campsites or accommodations close to the Hadrian’s Wall Path without adding extra distance was tricky. Planning how to split the walk over the days also required careful study, since people usually complete it in 4 to 9 days. We decided to do the journey in 6 days, and felt it was the most manageable ✅.

Henry Stedman’s Hadrian’s Wall Path was an excellent resource before the adventure 📚.

As for training, we knew the biggest challenge wasn’t the elevation like in previous mountain hikes, but the long distances. We focused on long walks on trails near home, often carrying a backpack heavier than what we’d need to get our bodies used to the weight 💪.

In the two months leading up to the trip, we dedicated one day a week to long walks, about 20 km – roughly the length of some of our longest days on Hadrian’s Wall 👣.

Hasnaa, tell us about your journey! What was it like walking along Hadrian’s Wall?

We started walking Hadrian’s Wall from Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria, Even though we didn’t see any part of the actual Roman wall until about 25 miles in.

Over 6 days, we covered 84 miles (134 km) across northern England along the historic wall path, built nearly two thousand years ago ⏳.

On the first half-day, we stopped in the village of Burgh-by-Sands at a pub for lunch. The bartender asked if we were walking the wall and said, “So… basically just a long pub crawl, right?” 😂

And he wasn’t far off! Along the way, there were rural pubs that saved us with a quick lunch or a celebratory drink at the end of the day 🍻. But walking Hadrian’s Wall is way more than just a pub crawl!

It’s a personal challenge, more about endurance than walking skills, because the trail itself isn’t difficult.

But it was epic ✨, historic, and full of all the amazing things a true adventure should have.

We had two days full of hills and challenges, sandwiched between two relatively flat days. The middle two days were the most exciting, because that’s when we saw most of the Roman wall remains we had been promised 👀.

The walking days were long, mostly passing through fields full of sheep, cows, and… plenty of… well, lots of droppings 😂.

At first, we tried to avoid it, but by the third day, we gave up 😂, because we were spending more time looking at our feet than enjoying the green countryside stretching for miles in every direction 🌿.

This journey was a powerful reminder of just how green England really is, and its beauty makes you feel like you’re in a movie scene 🎬. Walking alongside a Roman wall and passing the remains of the forts built by Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD was one of the most amazing parts of this incredible trail.

Midway through the journey, we took a rest day in Once Brewed and stayed at a hostel next to an amazing brewery 🍺 (Twice Brewed Inn – highly recommend it!). While my friend went to rest after getting a bit tired, I took the chance to explore the area: I visited the old houses and the museum next to the best-preserved Roman fort along the trail 🏛️.

Don’t overlook the forts and historic sites along the way, and make sure to schedule enough time to visit them properly ⏳.

We walked along country roads, long riverbank trails, fields, and hills with breathtaking views, passing through small villages full of English houses and beautiful churches. We covered miles of the Roman wall, passed more than ten forts, and even one temple.

The trail also took us through two cities: Carlisle in the west and Newcastle upon Tyne in the east. The journey ended as it began, with a simple marker reminding you of the length and significance of this amazing historic path 👣.

What was the most beautiful moment, or a memory that really stuck with you?

Definitely walking along a Roman wall nearly 2,000 years old. You pass forts, a temple, and sites full of history. Seeing the wall winding and stretching over the hills ahead, knowing it continues for miles in every direction… it’s an indescribable feeling ✨.

And after many years of living in Canada, returning and spending quality time in the area where I grew up in Britain reminded me how much I love it, and how lucky I was to have grown up there ❤️.

Did you face any difficulties or challenging moments?

Unfortunately, my friend got really tired on the second day, and it was obvious how much she was struggling 😔. But since we had been planning the trip for almost a year, she insisted on continuing. Thankfully, we had scheduled a rest day midway, which she used to fully recover.

Due to her health, we had to adjust some of our accommodation plans, opting for a cottage one night and a B&B the next instead of camping, just to ensure better rest 🛏️.

And there was one day with heavy rain 🌧️, and that’s when I realized I’d forgotten my backpack cover! So we stopped in the middle of a field and tried to improvise a solution with a garbage bag while the rain poured down on us 😂.

How did you feel after finishing the journey?

There were tears 😭… but tears of joy! The sense of accomplishment was incredible, especially after all the challenges we faced along the way, and especially seeing my friend push through her exhaustion.

The trail ends at Wallsend near Newcastle upon Tyne. And there’s a sign that reads: “I Walked Hadrian’s Wall.” Before the trip, I bought T-shirts from the Carlisle tourist office with the same phrase. And I surprised my friend with them. We took photos in front of the sign and celebrated finishing the journey 🎉. Our legs were exhausted, But the joy was greater than the fatigue.

What are the two things you can’t do without, and why?

1️⃣ Cash

Even in a world of cards, don’t forget to carry some cash with you. There are honestly little stalls along the way run by locals selling snacks. You’ll need cash if you want to grab something like chocolate 🍫, a hot drink ☕, or a Pot Noodle 🍜 to break the routine of your usual hiking meals.

2️⃣ Walking poles

Not everyone uses them, but for me they were essential on this trail. The long distances wear you out in the end, and the poles gave me extra support. I also felt safer, especially when walking through fields with signs warning about “bull in the field” 🐂😂.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?

Of the three nights we planned to camp, in the end we only used the tent for one night ⛺. For the other nights, we opted for more comfortable accommodations to ensure better rest.

If I were to do the trip again, I’d definitely book B&Bs, cottages, or hotels, and avoid camping in a tent.

These are very long walking days, and there’s nothing better than a warm shower when facilities are available.
This trip is already a big challenge, so why make it harder than it has to be? 😅

We thought that with camping we’d cook our own food on a small stove, but the truth is there are plenty of restaurants and eateries along the way if you plan your accommodation well. We only used the stove once, so between the tent, camping food, and gear, we ended up carrying more than we actually needed 😂.

Here are some tips and recommendations for anyone planning to do the same trip:

You’ll face the choice of walking Hadrian’s Wall from east to west (Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway) or west to east. We chose west to east, mostly because my family lives closer to that end of the wall, and also because we read that the wind is usually at your back rather than in your face 🌬️.

We met a lot of people walking from east to west, and they all said the same thing: they wished they had chosen the opposite direction, like we did 😄.

In the exposed areas along the wall, people walking east to west faced the wind in their faces most of the time, which added an extra challenge 😅.

Another tip: consider a luggage transfer service 🎒🚚. They take your big backpack in the morning and deliver it to your accommodation in the afternoon, so you don’t have to carry everything all day. This allowed us to just use a small daypack, making the trip much easier. Don’t try to be a “hero” 😎—use the service; it’s worth every penny!

How did walking Hadrian’s Wall change your perspective?

It made me reevaluate my long-distance walking abilities 💪. The start seemed like a huge task, but even with the long days and tired legs and feet, I was able to walk nearly the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall from coast to coast 👣.

And since then, any long trip or challenge I thought was difficult has felt much more achievable.

Another thing about long-distance hiking in remote places: it gives you a chance to completely disconnect from the world 📵. Walking all day in nature without Wi-Fi was an indescribable feeling – pure bliss!

📍Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria
This small town where we started our Hadrian’s Wall journey 🏞️,
Its postal code is CA7 4HN. If you want to visit or locate it on a map, this code is really useful.

📍Burgh-by-Sands
The village where we stopped for lunch on the first half-day 🍔,
with the postal code CA5 6EH. Small and peaceful, definitely worth a visit!

📍Carlisle
My hometown in the west 🌆,
with the postal code CA1. An important stop along the wall and also an excellent tourist hub for gear and information.

📍Wallsend, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
The journey ends at the sign that reads “I Walked Hadrian’s Wall” 🏰,
with the postal code NE28 6HR. There, you truly feel the greatness of the journey!

📍Once Brewed / Twice Brewed Inn
The rest spot where we spent our relaxation day 🍺, has the postal code NE47 7AN. If you want to visit the brewery or the hostel, the code makes it easy to find.

📍Housesteads Roman Fort
One of the best-preserved Roman forts along the trail 🏛️,
with the postal code NE47 7AN. Tip: make sure to allow enough time to visit both the museum and the site.