A walk along Hadrian's Wall - Greenhead to Housesteads

Submitted by Timwoods on 17 August 2010

Comment Email Print Share

(1 vote)

A linear, full-day countryside walk in England starting at Greenhead, Northumberland, about 17km (roughly 11 miles) long and unsuitable for families with children, prams/pushchairs, wheelchairs. The Hadrian's Wall Path offers days of wonderful walking, and the Hadrian's Wall bus service means you can tackle it in bite-sized chunks. A good spot to start is the section between Greenhead and Housesteads Roman Fort. It's a section with some of the best-preserved wall, and all set in glorious surroundings. The Once Brewed and Old Repeater Station youth hostels, both near the end, make a weekend stay easy to organise. Start: Greenhead, OS Grid: NY659654
End: Old Repeater station, OS Grid: NY820695 Elevation Profile (x: waypoint number, y: metres)

Gain (+/- 10%): 332m (1091ft)

Total (+/- 10%): 555m (1822ft)

Loss (+/- 10%): 223m (731ft)

Max. Elevation: 310m (1017ft)

Public Transport

OS Explorer Map:

OL43 - Hadrian's Wall
Buy it with 10% off & free shipping!

GPX-Download

Sponsor

Enlarge [+]

Show Waypoint Details

1 2 3 4 5 6

Waypoints

1. Greenhead

OS Grid: NY659654

Take the bus to Greenhead, just outside the National Park. The Youth Hostel is now closed, but there is plenty of B & B accommodation in the village.

2. Roman Army Museum

About 1 km (roughly 1 miles) from 1 OS Grid: NY666656

This museum is worth a visit if you have time, and especially if this is your first visit to the region. www.vindolanda.com

3. Hadrian's Wall path

About 4 km (roughly 3 miles) from 2 OS Grid: NY703664

As a National Trail, the path is well signposted and easy to follow, especially along this section.

4. Once Brewed

About 5 km (roughly 4 miles) from 3 OS Grid: NY753676

The route continues to Once Brewed, a small village on the path. There is a Youth Hostel here and a visitor centre.

5. Housesteads Roman Fort

About 4 km (roughly 3 miles) from 4 OS Grid: NY792691

This is one of the highlights of Hadrian's Wall, a stone fort built around 124 AD to house a Roman garrison. You have to pay to go in, but it's well worth it. The bus stops at Housesteads, so you can finish here, or keep on to the Youth Hostel at the Old Repeater station.

6. Grindon Youth Hostel

About 3 km (roughly 2 miles) from 5 OS Grid: NY816700

Carry on to Grindon Youth Hostel, also known as the Old Repeater station. Next morning, it's a short walk back to the Hadrian's Wall bus.