23 June 2026 - 7 days for £2,349 per person
Register for 2027 and we will contact when confirmed details, including dates and prices, are available
Follow in the footsteps of the Romans on this immersive walking tour along Hadrian’s Wall, one of Britain’s most iconic, ancient landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From moorlands to rolling hills, explore the diverse landscapes that once marked the northern frontier of the Roman Empire, discover the intriguing geology of Northumbria and its impact on construction of the Wall, and visit forts, towns and museums that bring Roman Britain vividly to life.
Starting in Carlisle, you will visit a range of historical sites, Roman forts, live archaeological excavations and discover the amazing geology of the Great Whin Sill, which formed a natural barrier in conjunction with Hadrian’s Wall. On each day of walking, you will complete around 2-4 miles of the Hadrian’s Wall path, which runs parallel to the Wall itself. The selection of walks has been chosen to give you the best snippets of countryside, Roman fortifications and geological phenomena.
You’ll be joined by a Blue Badge-accredited guide, local archaeologists and museum curators who will bring the story of Hadrian’s Wall to life, weave tales of Romans' lives at the fringes of their empire and showcase the incredible archaeological finds along this wild frontier.
This walking tour of Hadrian's WAll is perfect for history lovers, archaeology enthusiasts and curious minds alike. It offers a deep dive into Roman life in Britain, the awe-inspiring natural landscapes of the north and the extraordinary feats of Roman engineering – from hypocaust heating systems to expertly carved stonework and ancient roads that still shape the land today.
Pace and physicality
The terrain of Hadrian’s Wall is generally quite moderate and flat. However, there are significant and frequent steep ascents and descents, especially on days 4 and 5. A good degree of fitness and mobility is required to take part in this tour.
Day 1: Arrive in Carlisle
Check in to your hotel, The Fleece at Ruleholme, a 15-minute drive from Carlisle city centre. With a storied history, Carlisle’s place in the history books begins with the establishment of a Roman settlement called Luguvalium, which was located on the original frontier of the Stanegate, a Roman road running east to west between modern day Carlisle and Corbridge. After the construction of the Wall, a second fort called Uxellodunum was built here along the separate frontier of Hadrian's Wall. Throughout the Roman occupation of Britain, Carlisle's importance grew as a strategic base for travel north to Caledonia and east along the Wall, until the Romans left the site sometime in the early 5th century. With its Roman roots and reputation as the “Great Border City”, Carlisle is a fascinating place to begin our exploration of Hadrian’s Wall.
In the evening, meet your tour leader and fellow guests for a welcome drink at the hotel. Afterwards, you will enjoy an introductory talk setting the scene of the Romans in Britain. This will be followed by dinner at a the hotel restauranat.
Day 2: Carlisle Cathedral, Carlise Castle and archaeological dig site
After breakfast, you will start your day with a visit to Carlisle Cathedral, a beautiful building with interesting examples of stone and wooden carvings, distorted Norman arches, medieval choir stalls and the largest Gothic-style window in England. Afterwards, head to Carlisle Castle, an 11th-century fort built on the site of the old Roman settlement of Luguvalium. Learn of its storied history as part of the Scottish wars of independence and Jacobite rising led by Bonnie Prince Charlie.
In the afternoon, you will visit an archaeological dig site in the heart of Carlisle - Uncovering Roman Carlisle. In 2017, a survey project at the Carlisle Cricket Club uncovered a huge Roman building with an adjoineing bathhouse. After many years of excavation, all current evidence points to it being a huge administrative centre that hosted Septimius Severus, emperor of Rome in the early 3rd century AD. It is now the largest Roman building found at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall.
Please note at this stage it is unclear if there will be ongoing excavations in June 2026. We will be able to confirm this closer to the time. If there is no excavation going on we will visit Stanwix Bank to trace the Wall and the perimeter of Uxellodunum fort.
In the evening, you will enjoy a talk from a the archaeological director at the site, Frank Giecco, who will shed light on the hightory of the excavation, what it tells us about Roman history and the amazing finds that continue to be found here.
Afterwards you will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 3: Lanercost Priory and Hadrian's Wall – Banks Turret to Gilsland, via Birdoswald Roman Fort
Walking distance: 3.7 miles / 6 kilometres - 2 hours
After breakfast, check out of your Carlisle hotel and board the coach for a short journey to Lanercost Priory. Your luggage will remain on the coach throughout the day.
A religious building, constructed in the 12th century AD, its proximity to Scotland made it the target of numerous raids from the Scots during the wars of Scottish independence. Before entering the priory itself, you'll make a short visit to the Priory Church of St Mary Magdalene next door. Many of the stones that were used in its construction were taken from Hadrian’s Wall itself, evidenced by several centurial stones embedded in the walls of the Priory Church.
Afterwards, drive to Banks Turret where you will begin your first section of the walk along Hadrian’s Wall, which is packed with examples of military infrastrucure. As you walk, you will be introduced to the story of the Wall, who built it, why, what to look out for as you walk and how the wall operated as a frontier of the Roman Empire.
In the early afternoon you will arrive at Birdoswald Roman Fort, where you will have a break for lunch at the café. After lunch, you will enjoy a guided tour of the fort, the granaries and gateways. It is here that you can see the longest continuous stretch of original Hadrianic wall.
As you continue your walk, you will follow the path to Willowford Bridge to learn more about Roman engineering from the Roman bridge which was built here. When you arrive at Gilsland, the coach will meet you to drive you to your hotel in Hexham for the next four nights.
After you have checked in, the rest of the evening is free for you to enjoy.
Day 4: Hadrian's Wall – Roman Army Musem to Cawfield Quarry and Vincolanda
Walking distance: 3 miles / 5 kilometres - 2 hours
After breakfast, you will take the short drive to the Roman Army Museum, a museum dedicated to showcasing the daily life of a Roman soldier. You will be transported into military life through an immersive film, full-scale replicas and artefacts from the Roman fort of Vindolanda, as well as through the live excavation taking place at Magna Fort, adjacent to the museum.
From here you will begin your walk to Cawfields Quarry, stopping at the various turrets, forts and milestones that you encounter en route. It is from here that the landscape begins to undulate, with many ascents and descents making for beautiful scenery. The reason for the change in landscape is the Great Whin Sill. This astounding geological feature formed around 295 million years ago when liquid magma forced its way through sedimentary bedding planes and then hardened to form dolerite. Over time, the overlying sedimentary rock was eroded away to expose the hard dolerite which now forms the Whin Sill escarpment, creating a steep north side and a small slope to the south, as well as the ups and downs of this part of the walk.
When you arrive at Cawfields Quarry, the coach will meet you for the short journey to Vindolanda, a Roman fort on the south side of the Wall. Here, you will first have lunch and then a tour of this amazing site. Vindolanda is located on the Stanegate - a military road that ran from Carlisle to Corbridge and which acted as the first Roman frontier before Hadrian's Wall. It is an incredible site, much of which has yet to be uncovered (only 27% of it has been excavated so far). Due to the anaerobic preservation of organic materials, there are finds here dating back to the fort's foundation in around 85 AD and extending to its abandonment sometime in the 9th century. The collection in the museum shines a light on the scientific prowess of Romans at the frontier of their empire, including their development of technology, hypocaust systems, architecture, town planning and language.
You will then drive back to your hotel, where you will have the evening at leisure.
Day 5: Hadrian's Wall – Steel Rigg to Housesteads Roman Fort, via Sycamore Gap
Walking distance: 3.5 miles / 5.5 kilometres - 2 hours
After breakfast, you will begin your walk from Steel Rigg. Soon after you begin the walk you will encounter Sycamore Gap, whose famous tree was sadly cut down in 2023. After a brief stop here, you will continue your walk towards Housesteads Roman Fort, located on the Great Whin Sill escarpment to take advantage of this natural barrier.
You will stop for lunch at Housesteads, before enjoying a tour of this incredible site, including its gateway, commanding officer’s house, barracks and the best-preserved communal latrines in Roman Britain.
Take the short coach journey back to your hotel and enjoy dinner at your own leisure.
Day 6: Hadrian's Wall – Brocolitia to Tower Tye, via Chesters Roman Fort and Corbridge Roman Town
Walking distance: 2 miles /4 kilometres - 1.5 hours
Today marks your final day of walking. After breakfast, take the coach to Brocolitia, a Roman temple dedicated to the god Mithras. It is one of only four temples in the UK dedicated to this particular god and, being an all-male cult, was popular with the Roman army empire-wide. Nearby to the temple is the site of a well dedicated to Coventina, a Celtic water goddess.
From here you will walk eastwards to Tower Tye via Limestone Corner and Black Carts Turret, enjoying the expansive views especially on the north side.
Once you arrive at Tower Tye, you will reboard the coach and drive to Chesters Roman Fort, the best-preserved Roman cavalry fort in Britain. Between the fort and the River North Tyne is a Roman spa, which in its prime would have offered a complex combination of hot, cold and steam rooms. Enjoy a tour of the fort's buildings and a light lunch here at the onsite café.
After lunch, you will board the coach to Corbridge Roman Town (Coria or Corstopitum), located in the modern town of Corbridge. The town had been settled before the Romans arrived in Britain, but it was taken over and eventually became the most northerly town of the Roman Empire. Here you can walk along the original surface of the Stanegate, which has run all the way from Carlisle, through Vindolanda to Corbridge.
Here, Dr Frances McIntosh, curator of collections for English Heritage for Hadrian's Wall and the north east, will take you on a private tour of the site. The highlight of this place is the Corbridge Hoard, an ironbound, leather-wrapped chest, which was buried in the 2nd century AD. This time capsule provides a snapshot of a soldier’s life at the time. Found only in 1964, it is a collection of personal items, armour and writing implements and has enabled researchers to recreate Roman armour with the materials and techniques of the day.
From here you will drive back to your hotel and enjoy drinks and a final farewell dinner as a group.
Day 7: Departure
This morning, the coach will return to Carlisle after breakfast, where the tour concludes.
