About the Guide
By Kenneth Bunn
A 112 page full colour A5 booklet describing eight walks and the history and landscape surrounding those walks, along the length of Hadrian's Wall.
Hadrian's Great Eight
Follow in the author's footsteps. Walk these walks through dramatic and varied landscapes, everywhere with the visual imprint of Roman Britain and other historic locations.
Stand where soldiers and centurions from faraway places came to guard an Empire and build their forts and temples along The Wall.
Trailguides invite you to discover new Walking Ways in Hadrian's Wall Country.
Hadrian's Wall, one of the most recognised landscapes in Britain and since 1987, a designated World Heritage Site. Standing for almost two thousand years this structure rubs shoulders with both history and legend. Here Roman legionnaires lived, marched and fought to hold back the barbarian hordes to the north and, according to myth, King Arthur met his doom at the hands of Mordred at the Battle of Camlann.
This is a dramatic and varied country, full of surprises for the inquisitive and a joy to walk through. Join the author in a series of eight walks as he explores the country, history and myth that surrounds this part of Northumberland.
Author Biography :
Kenneth Bunn
Maps, tracks and trails have been a ‘Way of Life' for Ken for as long as he can remember. He has written about and illustrated almost every walk he has ever done resulting in an unrivalled record of North Country Walks and History. He continues to create and lead new walks throughout the region.
Following his first book for Trailguides', ‘Walks Around Rothbury and Coquetdale', it felt appropriate that a second book should highlight another unique Northumbrian landscape. Hadrian's Wall Country seemed a natural choice since Ken has been walking in this area for over four decades.
As mentioned in his previous book, only those who actually walked with Ken had access to his personal write-ups. Again, for the first time Trailguides give you eight of his favourite Wall Country Walks.
Contents
INTRODUCTION
1. Hadrian and The Wall.
2. Timeline.
3. Guardians of the Wall.
4. Once or Twice Brewed.
5. The Walks.
6. The Weather.
7. Safety.
THE WALKS
Walk 1: The Chollerford Triangle.
Walk 2: Newbrough Circular.
Walk 3: Vindolanda and The Wall.
Walk 4: From Housesteads Fort.
Walk 5: Haltwhistle Circular.
Walk 6: Gilsland Spa and the Popping Stone.
Walk 7: To Birdoswald Fort.
Walk 8: From Lanercost Priory.
APPENDIX
Ferguson Grading System.
The Author.
Walking North East.
Acknowledgements.
Disclaimer.
The Walks
WALK 1: THE CHOLLERFORD TRIANGLE
To a medieval tower, a 7th century battle site and church in an inspirational landscape, then to follow Hadrian's Wall Path to ‘a turret on the Wall'.
GRADE: T5[D1, N1, T1, R1, H1]
DISTANCE: 6.7 miles / 10.7 km
START: B6320 layby
GRID: NY 918 707
TIME: 3 to 3½ hours
MAP: OL43 Hadrian's Wall
WALK 2: NEWBROUGH CIRCULAR
Over wild open moor to a Roman Temple, see a Roman Quarry, a section of ‘Wall', pass a Romano-British Settlement and ‘mysterious' standing stone.
GRADE: T4 [D1, N1, T1, R1, H0]
DISTANCE: 6.6 miles / 10.5 km
START: Newbrough Town Hall
GRID: NY 874 679
TIME: 3½ to 4 hours
MAP: OL43 Hadrian's Wall
WALK 3: VINDOLANDA and THE WALL
To the excavations of a Roman Fort and a spectacular visual section of the Wall
GRADE: T6 [D1, N1, T1, R1,H2]
DISTANCE: 7 miles / 11.2 km
START: National Park Centre, Once Brewed
GRID: NY 753 668
TIME: 4 to 4½ hours
MAP: OL43 Hadrian's Wall
WALK 4: FROM HOUSESTEADS FORT
North into what was once ‘Barbarian Country', visit the Nature Reserve at Greenlee Lough, then back along the ‘spectacular visual section of the Wall' from Steel Rigg.
GRADE: T5 [D1, N1, T2, R1, H0]
DISTANCE: 9.7 miles / 15.5 km
START: Housesteads Car Park
GRID: NY 794 684
TIME: 5½ to 6 hours
MAP: OL43 Hadrian's Wall
WALK 5: HALTWHISTLE CIRCULAR
To one of the best preserved sections of the Wall and an ‘Arthurian Legend', then through a Roman Fort to finish down a dramatic wooded gorge.
GRADE: T6 [D1, N1, T1, R1, H2]
DISTANCE: 9.1 miles / 14.5 km
START: Haltwhistle Market Place
GRID: NY 707 641
TIME: 5½ to 6 hours
MAP: OL43 Hadrian's Wall
WALK 6: GILSLAND SPA and the POPPING STONE
Hadrian's Wall Path to a medieval castle, then to Walter Scott's ‘Popping Stone' and a Victorian Spa Well.
GRADE: T3 [D0, N1, T1, R1, HO]
DISTANCE: 5 miles / 8 km
START: Gilsland Station Site
GRID: NY 635 663
TIME: 3 to 3½ hours
MAP: OL43 Hadrian's Wall
WALK 7: TO BIRDOSWALD FORT
A short walk with continuous visual interest, to a major Wall Fort and an ‘Arthurian Legend'.
START 1: Gilsland Station Site
GRID: NY 635 663
GRADE: T2 [D0, N1, T0. R1, H0]
DISTANCE: 2.7 miles / 4.3 km
TIME: 1½ to 2 hours
START 2: Gilsland Car Park
GRID: NY 631 664
GRADE: T2 [D0, N1, T0. R1, H0]
DISTANCE: 2.1 miles / 3.3 km
TIME: 2 to 2½ hours
MAP: OL43 Hadrian's Wall - Allow an hour to visit Birdoswald Fort
WALK 8: FROM LANERCOST PRIORY
From a twelfth century priory to Hadrian's Wall Path and a quiet country return in the Irthing Valley.
GRADE: T4 [D0, N1, T1, R1, H1]
DISTANCE: 5.1 miles / 8.1 km
START: Tea Room car park. Permit required for over two hours. See alternative START - FINISH
GRID: NY 556 637 Priory
TIME: 3 to 3½ hours
MAP: 315 Carlisle
