Hadrian's Wall Path, 🇬🇧 - Annette Inglis

Annette Inglis is a retired speech-language pathologist, 66 years old, and a mother of two grown boys. One of her sons works for Doctors Without Borders and is a real adventurer, the other lives at home with Annette and her husband. Annette loves to ramble and belongs to two hiking groups.  

I recently went on a great hiking adventure along the Hadrian's Wall Path with my sister, which runs from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend outside of Newcastle, in Northern England. We walked 173 km in 8 1/2 days along the remnants of the wall.

I chose this path initially because it was well sign-posted, straightforward, and full of people, so I felt confident about embarking on this adventure by myself. Although I initially planned to go solo, I was thrilled when my sister decided to join me. We've done long distance walks/walking holidays together seven times in other parts of the UK and Europe, and it has always been wonderful. Walking on the same path used for centuries and explored by countless adventurers before us was amazing.

Hadrian's Wall is an outstanding feat of human achievement. It is a testament to the strength and resilience of the Roman Empire. Built by the Roman army on the orders of Emperor Hadrian himself, this monumental structure spanned a staggering 73 Roman miles/84 modern miles across the rugged terrain of northern Britain. Today, it's a World Heritage Site that inspires awe and admiration.

The countryside was gorgeous, green, and populated by walkers and countless sheep and cows. We met many interesting people along the way from close to home and abroad.  Magic moments include the misty morning we watched a woman interacting with her horses and the countless times we stopped in awe of the vistas before us. We even saw a cute little red fox and the famed ancient (over 200 years old) Sycamore tree, which sadly was later cut down in an act of vandalism.

One of the best things about this walk was that we got to sleep in a bed every night and enjoy a fantastic Full English breakfast in the morning. A full English breakfast is perfect to fuel your rambles all day long. It typically includes bacon, eggs, grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, bread or buttered toast, and sausages. Sometimes, black pudding and baked beans are also included. 

Needless to say, that was far too much for hiking but we certainly had a substantial breakfast every day!  We also enjoyed some fantastic curries and an English roast dinner complete with Yorkshire pudding after a long day of walking. Staying at a B&B also means that you meet other walkers with interesting stories and good advice.

The weather is unpredictable, so it's essential to be prepared for rain and mud and to bring gaiters and rain gear. If I ever did it again, I would slow down and have a rest day midway to visit some of the sites and learn more about the Roman Forts and settlements we passed.

The only part we didn't enjoy was the nine-kilometer section from Newcastle to Wallsend, which follows a polluted river through an industrial area. However, it was worth it just to say we finished it in its entirety.  There is also a fantastic museum and archaeological site in Wallsend called Segedunum.

It was such a joy to share this trip with my sister and to have hiking as a shared passion. Our parents were from England (left in the 1950s), so we often thought of them and reminisced during our adventure. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, and I recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable and historic adventure!

If you have advice about walking Hadrian's Wall Path we would love to hear it in the comments.

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