How to Get to Hadrian’s Wall | Intrepid Travel CH

Getting to Hadrian's Wall is relatively straightforward thanks to England's good public transport networks. Unless you're walking the full coast-to-coast trail, there are various starting points depending on how much time you have and the historical sites you want to see.

The easiest place to start is Newcastle in the east or Carlisle in the west, as these cities are well connected to the rest of the UK and Europe.

By road

If you're self-driving, you’ll need to exit onto the A69 road which runs east to west between Carlisle and Newcastle. You can drive to Newcastle on the A1 motorway or to Carlisle on the M6, both of which connect the Midlands in the south to the Scottish border in the north.

Public transport

By coach

The coach is an affordable option if you don't fancy driving. The National Express and Megabus run daily coach services to Newcastle and Carlisle from various cities in the UK, including London, Manchester and Leeds. You can then take the Tyne Valley Railway or 685 bus into the heart of Hadrian’s Wall region.

By train

The train is more expensive than the coach, but it's quicker. After taking a national line to Newcastle or Carlisle, transfer to the Hadrian's Wall Line operated by Northern Rail. This route services towns and villages on the outskirts of Northumberland National Park.

You can also take Tyne Valley Railway which connects Newcastle and Carlisle via Brampton, Haltwhistle and Hexham stations. These destinations skirt some of the popular sections of Hadrian's Wall.

Visit the National Rail for information on routes and fares.

By air

Newcastle is the closest airport to Hadrian’s Wall with many domestic and international flight routes. However, if you’re travelling from Dublin, Belfast City or London Southend, you can also fly into Lake District Airport and transfer to Carlisle via bus or train.

Getting around

The best way to explore Hadrian’s Wall is on foot on the Hadrian’s Wall Path. This way, you'll see the historical sites and the best-preserved sections of the wall up close. You can also cycle the Hadrian’s Cycleway; but note that you’ll need to dismount at some sections and walk.

If you don’t fancy walking the full 117 kilometres (it's a fair distance!), the local bus is a great option. You can take the hourly 685 bus service that runs from Newcastle to Carlisle via the most popular landmarks.

There’s also the AD122 Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus (not-so-coincidently, the bus number is the year Hadrian’s Wall was built), which runs from Hexham to Haltwhistle Rail Station via the main sites, including the Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre.

AD122 Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus route: