Best Time of Year to Walk Hadrian’s Wall

When is the best time to walk Hadrian's Wall?

The best time to walk Hadrian's Wall is between June and September as the weather is normally drier and the days are longer.

Hadrian's Wall is drenched in history and offers some seriously stunning views of Northumberland and Cumbria's rugged landscapes. Whether you're planning on visiting Hadrian's Wall to nerd out on Roman history or to escape the city for the wind-whipped walking trails, you're probably wondering when to go. The best time to plan your trip really depends on what kind of holiday you want to have.

If the idea of trudging through mud and getting soaked in the rain doesn’t sound like too much fun, it’s best to visit Hadrian's Wall in the summer from June through September – especially if you’ll be doing lots of walking. But hey, that’s not to say the cooler months are off the cards. It'll just be a different kind of experience. The official guidance from National Trails is to walk Hadrian's Wall between May and October as the soil is drier (which reduces wear and tear on the trails). You'll also benefit from all tourist facilities and accommodation being open, although most things start opening up from early March. No matter when you visit Hadrian's Wall, the weather in this region is unpredictable and it's best to be prepared to walk in all conditions – even if the forecast says it's going to be clear and sunny!

Let's take a closer look at what to expect in each season.

Visiting Hadrian's Wall in spring

Pros: wildflowers, lamb and calf season
Cons: heavy rainfall

Spring is a glorious time of year along Hadrian's Wall as nature starts to bounce back to life after the harsh winter weather. The pastures turn bright green and colourful wildflowers bloom across the craggy hills. Spring also marks the beginning of lambing season and you'll see lots of super cute baby lambs and calves frolicking in the fields as you walk along Hadrian's Wall Path. Spring has a reputation for being particularly wet (hello, April showers!), so make sure you pack waterproofs and plenty of warm layers.

Visiting Hadrian's Wall in summer

Pros: great walking conditions, accessibility, daylight hours
Cons: bigger crowds

The summer months offer milder temperatures with average highs of 18°C, clearer skies and less rain (although it's never guaranteed up north). You'll also enjoy longer days (with 16 hours of daylight around the summer solstice in June) which is ideal for getting out and exploring the lush countryside in Northumberland National Park. More reliable weather also makes summer the busiest time along Hadrian's Wall, particularly in July and August when the kids are on summer holidays, so you'll be sharing the walking trails with more people. It can also be more difficult to find accommodation and things generally tend to be a little more expensive.

Visiting Hadrian's Wall in autumn

Pros: smaller crowds, autumn foliage
Cons: unpredictable weather

The weather is unpredictable in autumn, and it can be particularly windy at this time of year so you'll need a windproof jacket and plenty of warm layers. However, the arrival of stunning autumn colours makes up for it. Plus, is there anything more satisfying than stomping over crunchy leaves? As the days start to draw in earlier, autumn is the perfect time of year to enjoy an evening drink or two in cosy village pubs once you kick off your hiking boots. Just note that by late October/early November, accommodation providers start to shut up shop for the offseason so it might be harder to find a room.

Visiting Hadrian's Wall in winter

Pros: magical landscapes, small crowds
Cons: accessibility, poor weather conditions

Winter is cold and wet with average highs of 5°C. However, on a clear, crisp winter’s day when the sun is shining, Hadrian’s Wall and the surrounding landscapes are absolutely gorgeous. There’s something special about seeing two-thousand-year-old ruins covered in frost and the surrounding fells dusted with snow. If you do visit in winter, just note that some sections of the Hadrian's Wall Path may be closed due to weather conditions. But in this case, what better excuse to rug up around a roaring log fire and tuck into some tasty English pub grub. Most accommodation providers along the trail are closed between late October and March, and museums and historical sites may also have limited opening hours.

Average temperatures along Hadrian's Wall

MONTH	AVERAGE HIGH (°C)	AVERAGE LOW (°C)
January	5	1
February	6	0
March	8	1
April	11	3
May	14	5
June	17	8
July	18	10
August	18	10
September	15	8
October	12	6
November	8	3
December	6	1