Hadrian's Wall Easy Days Out - Cover1
Hadrian's Wall Easy Days Out - Cover2
Hadrian's Wall Easy Days Out - Brocolitia
Hadrian's Wall Easy Days Out - Gilsland and Birdoswald
Hadrian's Wall Easy Days Out - Hexham
Getting to and around Northumberland National Park and Hadrian's Wall
Northumberland National Park is an area of wild moorland, spectacular views and open spaces, located close to the English and Scottish border between the city of Newcastle and the border town of Carlisle. At its southern end, it encompasses the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site - a stone wall built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD122. The route of the Wall, in many parts well preserved, is closely followed by the Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail, linking many Roman forts, museums and visitor attractions. Another long distance trail, the Pennine Way also follows sections of the Hadrian's Wall. There are also two National Cycle Routes in the Hadrian's Wall Corridor, and many rides are possible using quiet roads and lanes.
This southern part of the National Park, which includes the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage site and the Pennine Way National Trail, is well served by public transport. The Tyne Valley Line between Newcastle and Carlisle runs parallel to the Wall slightly to the south with a number of footpaths linking the stations with the Roman forts, including Corbridge and Vindolanda, and the surrounding countryside. A series of linear station to station walks is available from Tyne Valley Train Trails via the National Trail website.
Throughout the year, the bus service (685 ) through the Tyne Gap between Newcastle and Carlisle, running every half hour or so, enables access to the Hadrian's Wall, including Corbridge, Vindolanda (a scenic stroll of less than two miles away) and Birdoswald, as well as the two National Trails whereas in summer there is a special AD122 Hadrian's Wall Bus running daily until 1st of October and on Sundays and Bank Holidays until 31st of October, and providing easy access to all Roman sites, National Park centres as well as some glorious walking and cycling countryside. There is one direct bus running along the full length of the Wall, from Wallsend in Newcastle to Bowness in Solway which can carry wheelchairs, pushchairs and bicycles, with additional services between Hexham and Carlisle which connect with trains from and to Newcastle at Hexham.
Hadrian's Wall Easy Days Out - Birdoswald and Vindolanda by Bus
Hadrian's Wall Easy Days Out - Baltic and Segedunum
Hadrian's Wall Easy Days Out - Vindolanda and Housesteads
Hadrian's Wall Easy Days Out - Walltown and the Roman Army Museum
Other public transport services tend to operate on the edge of such
areas as the Cheviots or Kielder Forest. The Roman cavalry fort and bath house at Chesters are accessible Monday to Saturday
from Hexham railway and bus stations by the 880 bus service towards Bellingham. There are quite
good services to Rothbury and Thropton (accessible from
Morpeth on the East Coast main railway line, and Wooler
(accessible from Berwick), and to such settlements as Bellingham
and Otterburn, but away from the Tyne valley careful
planning is needed.
A Summary of local bus services
AD 122 - The Hadrian's Wall Bus
685/85 Carlisle - Haltwhistle, giving access to the Hadrian's Wall area
473 Alnwick - Wooler: on summer weekends buses go via Ingram Visitor Centre in
the Breamish Valley.
516 Morpeth - Thropton : via Rothbury, running close to the Simonside
Hills and Coquetdale.
508 Gateshead - Newcastle - Belsay - Rothbury: with additional summer services
to Lordenshaws Iron Age Hill Fort
880 Hexham - Bellingham: access to the North Tyne Valley and Chesters
Fares and Tickets :
You can buy a ticket directly to any place on the Hadrian's Wall, which is served by rail or by the Hadrian's Wall Bus, at any railway station. The ticket is valid for return journey, and for travel on the AD122 Hadrian's Wall Bus.
Hadrian's Wall Bus has Day Rover Tickets, priced at £6.00 per adult or £12.00 for a family, valid all day.
You can also buy a Stagecoach Explorer Ticket, valid on Stagecoach buses and including unlimited travel on the AD122 Hadrian's Wall Bus. The tickets are available for one day, or four days, with special family tickets also on offer
If you plan to spend a weekend travelling by bus and train, you can buy a Hadrian's Wall flexi Rail Rover ticket, valid for any two days out of three and priced at £12.50, with railcard discounts available.
Useful Contacts:
Hadrian's Wall Information Line: info@hadrians-wall.org and tel: 01434 322002.
Traveline:0870 6082 608
Tourist Information Centres:
Newcastle: 0191 277 80 00
Hexham: 01434 652 220
Haltwhistle: 01434 322 002
National Park Information Centre: 01434 344 396
Best Places to stay without a car: Hexham, Haltwistle, Brampton
