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

Spanning 73 miles from Newcastle Upon Tyne to Cumbria and littered with ancient Roman ruins and history, it's no wonder Hadrian’s Wall is one of the greatest walks in Europe. England is compact and getting to Hadrian's Wall is relatively straightforward thanks to great public transport networks – it’s choosing where to start that’s the difficult part. Unless you're walking the full coast to coast trail, there are various starting points to choose from depending on how much time you have and the historical sights and sections of the wall you’d like to see. The easiest place to start your adventure 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, train, bus and air.

Getting to Hadrian's Wall by road

To get to Hadrian’s Wall by car, 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.

Getting to Hadrian's Wall by coach

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

Getting to Hadrian's Wall by train

Travelling by train is slightly more expensive than by coach, but it's quicker. You can jump on a train to Newcastle or Carlisle from London, Birmingham and Newport in the south, and Glasgow and Edinburgh in the north. Once you’re in Newcastle or Carlisle, you can transfer to Hadrian's Wall Line operated by Northern Rail which crosses through the outskirts of Northumberland National Park and several towns and villages. You can't see much of the wall from the train, but you'll catch glimpses from the window every now and then.

You can also take Tyne Valley Railway which connects Newcastle and Carlisle via Brampton, Haltwhistle and Hexham stations which skirt some of the popular sections of Hadrian's Wall. Visit the National Rail for current information on routes and fares.

Getting to Hadrian's Wall 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 Hadrian’s Wall

The best way to explore Hadrian’s Wall is on foot along the Hadrian’s Wall Path, or by bicycle on Hadrian’s Cycleway (although you’ll still need to dismount and hike to see the wall and its surrounding landmarks). Not only will you see more historical sights and the most preserved sections of the wall up close when you walk, but you’ll also be immersed in the gorgeous countryside every step of the way.

If you don’t fancy cycling or walking the full 73 miles (we'll admit, it's a fair distance!), the local bus service is a great option. You can hop on and off the hourly 685 bus service that runs from Newcastle to Carlisle via most of the most popular places within the Hadrian’s Wall region. 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 Bus Station to Haltwhistle Rail Station via many of the main sights and attractions along Hadrian's Wall, including the Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre.

AD122 Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus route: