Re: Hadrian's Wall Trail
- From: GAGS <gags.nw@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2009 18:01:57 -0700 (PDT)
On 7 Sep, 00:09, Andy B <bayn...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Several of the Explorers (and their leader...) quite fancy walking
this. Has anyone any experience and / or tips?
Particularly - before
I go through the entire route on the map, does anyone know the maximum
extent of the route? Terrain One?
Walked it twice, once in 4 days, the next time in a more leisurely 6
days.
It's a National Trail, 84 miles long (140 km in 'new money') and most
people start at the eastern end - Segedenum Roman Fort at Wallsend -
and finish with the setting sun in the west - at Bowness on Solway.
First bit (East -West) is along the Tyne (co with a cycleway), through
the city (quay and bridges), into farmland above Tynedale, then up
into the heather moorland and the prominent Whin Sill - a dolerite
sill - before descending into Cumbrian pastures and finally the salt
marsh of the Solway Firth.
The highest point is Whinshields Crags (1130' or 340 m ? IIRC) - which
I wandered over a few weeks ago on my trip over the north Pennines.
So it's all Terrain Zero - below 500 m and the B6318 runs alongside it
for much of the way.
You'll likely want to start at Wallsend (E) - the more awkward travel
end for those that genrally travel north on the West Coast Main Line/
M6 - and finish at Bowness on Solway - the easier travel end for
getting home. (Someone living on the east coast would probably change
it round and go W - E.)
Watch out for midges in parts. Wear a hat (it's an exposed route).
Don't wear hiking boots on the first part as it's all hard path,
trainers or trail shoes are better - the last time I did it I wore
trail shoes all the way.
It can get wet - underfoot - on the Solway marshes so consult a tide
timetable as sometimes the path near Dykesfield floods.
It's not the Pennine Way but neither is it a cakewalk. The central 25
miles or so swtiches to and fro over the Whin Sill and there are a lot
of sharp ups and downs.
You need to think/plan accommodation in advance. It can get busy in
summer months, especially at weekends. First time I bivouaced on/near
the path. Of course I had to carry a bigger pack. But I was much
younger then! Some accommodation slightly further off the route can do
pick up/drop off from the trail. Camping places and YHA along the way.
(I would use the YHA whenever possible, especially if you catch a
rainy, cold miserable day, a hot shower is a necessity.)
It'll cost you extra if you visit Roman antiquities along the way.
(It's tempting to 'bunk over the wall' into places such as Housesteads
and Chesters, but the National Trust people are ever watchful.)
There is an 'official' National Trail Guide. Trailblazers also have a
guide by Stedman which has got route maps, itineraries, places to stay
(Bunkhouses, camping, YHA, B&B, etc), places to eat/drink, and IIRC
the recent edition is pretty up to date. Harveys have Wall Path maps.
IIRC you can buy a wall Path pack - guides and trial map bundle.
I would look over the National Trails web pages.
http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/hadrianswall
Should have everything you need at this stage.
And it's also one of those trails where leaders should feel very
confident for yp to walk on their own a lot of the time.
HTH
All help most gratefully received!
You're welcome.
GAGS
.
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