Hadrian’s Wall and English Lake District

Hadrian’s Wall Path – 44 miles (70 km) over 2/3 days walking

English Lake District – 20 – 42 miles (32 – 68 km) over 3 days walking

This tour offers the opportunity to walk alongside the best parts of Hadrian’s Wall with an extended break in the heart of the English Lake District.

Taking the benefit of the proximity of both locations this new for 2021 EasyWays Tour combines an integrated travel package from the start point in the border town of Carlisle with rail connections through Hexham and Penrith to our chosen Lake District base of Keswick.

The Wall part of this tour covers a distance of 44 miles over undulating terrain with spectacular views all around.   This is the most demanding walking section of the wall from Walton and Winshield Crags through to the Temple of Mithras however the reward lies in the amount of battlements still preserved after almost 2000 years.

Overnight hotel stops en-route are of the highest standard and the rail connection departure times from Hexham to Penrith followed by an express bus service to Keswick has been carefully planned to allow time for an afternoon walk within the mid-point day of transfer.

The high standard of accommodation is maintained in Keswick by our selection of one of the original hotels built in this beautiful Lakeland town.  Easyways has compiled a number of walking tours that can be completed in a day either by circular path from the town or by use of the local bus service via a 3 day Explorer Ticket, included in the Tour Package.

More details on Hadrian’s Wall can be found here or by access to this link to the Official Wall Website.

For the English Lakes and specifically Keswick all information is here.

Your EasyWays Tour Package will contain all details required for your walking tour including bespoke GPS download maps and local information on all your overnight stops with particular emphasis on Keswick where EasyWays has a long standing association with the town.

Key Symbols

ROUTE TERRAIN

Strenuous

ROUTE SIGNPOSTING

Waymarked

NAVIGATIONAL SKILLS

Moderate

Hadrian’s Wall Path & Lake District

Easyways Suggested Itinerary

Click each day to expand.

Arrive Carlisle

Arrive Carlisle

Carlisle to Greenhead (22.5 miles / 36 km)

This stage enjoys easy walking from historic Carlisle, on the Scotland / England Border, alongside the banks of the beautiful River Eden and over undulating rural countryside. From the quaint village of Walton with its interesting church beside the village green (an excellent lunch stop at the Reading Room Café), the route ascends over a fertile agricultural landscape and parkland to Banks to traverse the steep-sided Irthington Gorge past Lanercost Priory and Banks Turret. View the Roman defences at Birdoswald before reaching the quaint village of Gilsland. Two miles completes the day walk at Greenhead. It is possible to reduce the walk distance by 4.5 miles / 7.2 km from the centre of Carlisle to the countryside at Crosby on Eden by private transfer arranged by EasyWays in advance.

Greenhead to Chollerford/Wall (20 miles / 32 km)

Return to the Wall the following morning to pass ruins of Thirlwall Castle, Magnis Forts and Great Chesters. Continue up Cawfields Crags and up steps through Thorny Doors. The path then ascends to take in the highest point on the walk, the ascent over Winshields Crags (345m above sea level) before passing Peel and Highshield Crags with the remains of Housesteads Roman Fort and National Trust Museum is passed on the crags above Crag Lough. Vindolanda Fort is a short a couple of miles away at this point on the route through Northumberland National Park, especially impressive, with wonderful views all round, including Whin Sill, where the Wall was built along the top of the cliff to take full advantage of the natural contour of the rock face. Follow the Wall alongside the main A69 road to arrive in Chollerford/Wall however as this is a particularly long walk distance with many undulations it is possible to end the day by using the regular local bus service that passes the Temple of Mithras shortening the route by Greenhead to Temple of Mithras 14 miles / 22.4 km.

Transfer to Keswick - The Derwentwater Walk (11km / 7 miles)

This morning take the local bus from outside your hotel to Hexham Rail Station to connect with Penrith via Carlisle. Depart Wall 10.30, arrive Hexham 10.50. Depart Hexham 11.18 arrive Penrith via Carlisle 13.01. An Express Bus then connects Penrith with Keswick every 30 minutes. All timetables are included in your EasyWays Tour Pack. Derwentwater Circuit – 11km / 7 miles A circular walk on the flat around the lake that can be completed on the afternoon of your arrival. Also possible to take a water boat across to Hawes End from Keswick Pier to shorten the route distance.

Lakeland Walks – a selection of hill and lakeside walk ~ Suggested: Catbells (7.5km / 4 miles)

Take the 10.30 Walkers Special launch across Derwentwater to Hawes End requesting the stop for “Cat Bells”. This is a moderate walk up the fell that overlooks Derwentwater offering fantastic view all around including Keswick.

Lakeland Walks - a selection of hill and lakeside walks ~ Suggested: Blencartha (14km / 8.75 miles)

This is a more strenuous route and involves taking a short bus journey to the White Horse Inn to access the walk start point. Blencartha is a steady climb to the 868m point however the effort is rewarded with fantastic views giving a real Lake District experience and reward awaits with a wide selection of local ales in the White Horse before the short journey back to Keswick.

Depart Keswick

Congratulations – you have completed Hadrian’s Wall and English Lake District! After breakfast, it is time to set off on your onward journey.

Prices from – £680 per person

Single supplement – On request

What’s included?

  • 6 nights’ accommodation for 2 people sharing in quality hotels.
  • En-suite rooms with shower/WC and breakfast included
  • Door to door baggage transfer on Hadrian’s Wall stages of the tour – maximum 16 kg per bag
  • Hadrian’s Wall Rucksack Readers Guide Book
  • EasyWays Tour Pack with GPS Mapping including accommodation location details
  • All travel information to the start and from the finish of the walk
  • Suggested equipment list
  • Emergency support

What’s not included?

  • Evening meals, packed lunches and drinks
  • Travel insurance

STAGES & DISTANCES 

Carlisle

22.5 miles / 36 km

Greenhead

20 miles / 32 km

Chollerford/Wall

This morning take the local bus from outside your hotel to Hexham Rail Station to connect with Penrith via Carlisle. Depart Wall 10.30, arrive Hexham 10.50. Depart Hexham 11.18 arrive Penrith via Carlisle 13.01. An Express Bus then connects Penrith with Keswick every 30 minutes. All timetables are included in your EasyWays Tour Pack.

Keswick

11km / 7 miles

Derwentwater Circuit*

7.5km / 4 miles

Catbells*

14km / 8.75 miles

Blencartha*

*Suggested Lake District Walks

MAP

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