Chat with us, powered by LiveChat Hadrian's Wall, UK | Cumbria | Escorted Walking Breaks

What to expect

Hadrian's Wall Path

Hadrian's Wall Path

Walk the Wall's most scenic sections

Iconic Roman Forts

Iconic Roman Forts

Housesteads, Birdoswald & Vindolanda

UNESCO-listed Site

UNESCO-listed Site

Britain's largest archaeological feature

Fascinating History

Fascinating History

Follow in the footsteps of Romans

About this trip...

Step back into Roman Britain on this immersive 3-night walking break along the most spectacular stretches of Hadrian’s Wall. Over two full walking days, you’ll explore the Wall’s most iconic forts—including Housesteads, Birdoswald and Vindolanda—while following the national trail across dramatic ridgelines, rolling farmland and some of the best-preserved archaeology in the UK. With an experienced Blue Badge Walking Guide to bring the landscape to life, you’ll uncover milecastles, turrets, ancient gateways and the stories of the legionaries who once guarded this frontier of the Roman Empire. Comfortable hotel stays, included breakfast and dinner, and your accompanying Solos Tour Leader make this the perfect blend of history, scenery and rewarding, achievable walking.

Grade: Moderate

Activity Level: Activity Level Rating
What's this?

What's included?

  • Twin/double room for sole occupancy
  • Half Board: Daily breakfast & dinner
  • Glass of wine with evening meal
  • Welcome drink & information meeting
  • Two full days guided walking on Hadrian's Wall Path
  • Entrance to Housesteads & Birdoswald Roman Forts
  • Entrance to Vindolanda Fort & Museum
  • Entrance to Roman Army Museum & Magna Fort
  • Exclusive Blue Badge Walking Guide on both walking days
  • Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
  • Fully Financially Protected

What's extra:

  • Insurance click here
  • Lunches

Itinerary

  • Arrival & check-in
  • Housesteads Fort, Steel Rigg & Vindolanda Fort
  • Birdoswald Fort & Roman Army Museum
  • Departure day

What you'll be doing

Day One: Arrival & check-in

Day One: Arrival & check-in

Check in to our hotel, and relax or explore until evening comes. We'll come together to enjoy a welcome drink with your fellow Solos guests, before dinner in the hotel restaurant.
  • Dinner included
Day Two: Housesteads Fort, Steel Rigg & Vindolanda Fort

Day Two: Housesteads Fort, Steel Rigg & Vindolanda Fort

After breakfast, we take a coach to Housesteads Fort for a guided tour before setting off on our day's walk. Housesteads Fort is one of the most impressive and best preserved sites along Hadrian's Wall and served as a key stronghold. From there, we follow Hadrian's Wall Path via the Military Way towards the spectacular viewpoint at Steel Rigg. The iconic route offers beautiful, varied vistas, passing the site where the famous sycamore tree once stood and long stretches of impressively intact Wall as well as numerous features, including milecastles and turrets. Expect outstanding panoramas and dramatic landscapes throughout.
We stop for lunch at the Twice Brewed Inn (lunch not included), before continuing our walk to Vindolanda Fort and Museum, where we take a comprehensive tour of the site. Vindolanda is one of the most important and richly informative Roman archaeological sites in Britain and is famous for its exceptionally well-preserved artifacts. 
 
  • Distance: 6 miles
  • Time: 4-5 hours approx.
  • Grade: Housesteads Fort to Steel Rigg - Moderate, with steep ups and downs along rocky paths. Rewarding but demanding in places. 
  • Grade: Steel Rigg to Vindolanda Fort - Easy to Moderate, one steep walk from the museum back up to the main site.
  • Breakfast & dinner included 
  • Transfer from Hotel to Housesteads Fort: 40 mins approx.
  • Transfer from Vindolanda Fort to Hotel: 40 mins approx.
Day Three: Birdoswald Fort & Roman Army Museum

Day Three: Birdoswald Fort & Roman Army Museum

Today we start with a tour of Birdoswald Fort, one of the best places to experience the scale and structure of Hadrian’s Wall. From here we continue to Harrow Scar Milecastle and the Roman bridge abutment at Willowford. This stretch includes two Roman turrets and leads into Gilsland, where you’ll find the remarkably complete Poltross Burn Milecastle. This is considered one of the most intact stretches of Roman Wall, featuring centurial inscriptions and carved symbols.

We then take a well-earned rest for lunch (lunch not included). Our route then continues along Hadrian’s Wall Path through attractive farmland beside the Wall’s back ditch and the Vallum, passing remains near Longbyre and stopping at medieval Thirlwall Castle. We then climb towards the Roman Army Museum/Magna Fort, where a twenty-minute film vividly depicts life on the Wall and provides a fitting finale to our two-day tour. 
 
  • Distance: 4 miles
  • Time: 3-4 hours approx. 
  • Grade: Easy to moderate
  • Breakfast & dinner included 
  • Transfer from Hotel to Birdoswald Fort: 30 mins approx.
  • Transfer from Roman Army Museum to Hotel: 30 mins approx.
Day Four: Departure day

Day Four: Departure day

After a leisurely breakfast, we check out before heading home.


  • Breakfast included

Accommodation

Cumbria Park Hotel

Cumbria Park Hotel is our charming base in Carlisle, perfectly located for exploring Hadrian’s Wall. Built on the site of the ancient Roman fort Petriana, the hotel blends historic significance with modern comforts.

Facilities include:
Restaurant, Hadrian's Bar, a comfortable lounge and complimentary parking.
Room includes:
Wi-Fi, TV, tea and coffee-making facilities and desk.

 
Please note the hotel for 2027 will be Crown Hotel, Wetheral

Dates & Prices

Departure Return Nights Price from Other Info Regional flights
2 Oct 2026 5 Oct 2026 3
£849
 
30 Apr 2027 3 May 2027 3
£869
 

Essential Information

Essential Details
It is important to consider whether this holiday is suitable for your level of fitness, mobility, and any medical conditions. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments wherever possible. Please tell us about any disability, medical condition, or additional requirements before booking so we can assess whether we can safely and appropriately accommodate your needs. If you are unsure whether this holiday is suitable for you, please contact us before booking. We will be happy to discuss the holiday requirements and your individual circumstances.
Walking Programme
Two guided walks are included in the programme. The walking programme is graded moderate. Due to the nature of the terrain there will be numerous short steep climbs. 
 
Housesteads Fort, Steel Rigg & Vindolanda Fort
  • Walking Distance: 6 miles approx.
  • Walking Time: 4-5 hours approx.
  • Grade: Housesteads Fort to Steel Rigg - Moderate, with steep ups and downs along rocky paths. Rewarding but demanding in places. 
  • Grade: Steel Rigg to Vindolanda Fort - Easy to Moderate, one steep walk from the museum back up to the main site.
Birdswald Fort & Roman Army Museum
  • Walking Distance: 4 miles approx.
  • Walking Time: 3-4 hours approx. 
  • Grade: Easy to Moderate
Gratuities
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. In order to give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff (including restaurant, kitchen and reception staff) of approximately £15. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of bar staff and housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (the rounding up of the drinks bill and a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, restaurants expect a 10% gratuity (do check that service has not already been added to your bill). For taxis 10% of the metered fare.
Dress Code
The dress code for during the evening is casual.
What to Wear - Walking Days
It is important that you have the correct footwear. It is essential to wear walking boots that are comfortable and preferably lightweight, with some ankle support and a good grip. If you already have a pair of boots that you are happy walking in (including during hot/wet weather and on hard ground), then bring these along. However, if you are bringing new footwear, do make sure they are well broken in before you arrive. The weather, even in summer, can be unpredictable. We would therefore recommend you travel with clothing suitable for all conditions, and suggest you use the following checklist as a guideline of what to take:
  • Walking boots with good ankle support
  • Waterproofs – jacket and trousers
  • Walking poles – recommended as they provide good support for the knees, particularly on downhill sections of walks and when conditions are wet/slippery
  • Lightweight trousers and shorts with pockets
  • Shirts or t-shirts for walking in
  • Walking socks – several pairs
  • Lightweight fleece or jumper
  • Hat & gloves
  • Daysack/rucksack for walking
  • Umbrella – it can be used also for protection from the sun as well as rain
  • Lightweight drinking bottle to carry water whilst walking
  • Small first aid kit – plasters, insect repellent, etc
  • Good, high factor sunscreen, sunhat and sunglasses – the sun’s strength is often multiplied in mountainous areas.
Location & Transport Cumbria Park Hotel

Cumbria Park Hotel, Carlisle (2026)

Carlisle is reached via the M6 from the south or the A74(M) from the north. From the east, access is along the A69. 

Address: Cumbria Park Hotel, 32 Scotland Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 9DG

Parking

The hotel offers complimentary parking spaces, available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

By Rail

Take the Avanti West Coast route to Carlisle. Carlisle train station is a 25 minute walk to Cumbria Park Hotel. You can take a taxi from outside the train station. 

Crown Hotel, Wetheral (2027)

Wetheral is reached via the M6, if travelling from the south, leave at Junction 42, if travelling from the north leave at Junction 43. From the east, access is along the A69. 

Address: Steele's Bank, Wetheral, Carlisle CA4 8ES

Parking

The hotel offers complimentary parking spaces, available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

By Rail

Take the Avanti West Coast route to Carlisle followed by the Northern route to Wetheral. Wetheral train station is a 5 minute walk to Crown Hotel. 

Location & Transport Crown Hotel

Crown Hotel, Wetheral (2027)

Wetheral is reached via the M6, if travelling from the south, leave at Junction 42, if travelling from the north leave at Junction 43. From the east, access is along the A69. 

Address: Steele's Bank, Wetheral, Carlisle CA4 8ES

Parking

The hotel offers complimentary parking spaces, available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

By Rail

Take the Avanti West Coast route to Carlisle followed by the Northern route to Wetheral. Wetheral train station is a 5 minute walk to Crown Hotel. 

Currency UK
£ - Sterling in London
WhatsApp Group
WhatsApp Group: Shortly before your holiday, you will be invited to join an optional WhatsApp group to connect with your fellow travellers and your Tour Leader.

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Rated as Excellent (4.8/5) by our customers

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First Class

I’d highly recommend Solos to people looking to travel on their own with a group of like minded people.
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Fabulous experience

Solos are extremely organised and provide fantastic holidays for people on their own. The tour leaders are of a very high standard and are extremely caring with the guests.
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This was my first Solos holiday and it hugely exceeded my expectations. Lovely, lovely people made the holiday so special.....it will stay with me for always
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I’ve recently returned from my first Solos holiday and had a fantastic time. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute, and the memories will last a lifetime.
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