Arrive in Carlisle, a historic city rich in Roman and medieval heritage. Explore Carlisle Castle, a fortress with a turbulent past, and visit Tullie House Museum to discover artifacts from Hadrian’s Wall. Stroll through the old town, where charming streets lead to cozy cafés and traditional pubs. If time allows, take a walk along the River Eden or visit the remains of Hadrian’s Wall nearby. Relax and settle into your accommodation, preparing for the journey ahead. Tomorrow, your cycling adventure begins, tracing the footsteps of the Romans across Britain’s northern frontier!
Distance: 25 kms (16 miles) / Elevation Gain: 239 m (784 feet) / Saddle Time: 1.5-2.5 hours
Your first cycle day starts now. Leaving Carlisle, you follow a mix of quiet country lanes and dedicated cycle paths, gradually gaining elevation. The landscape shifts to rolling farmland and small villages, offering a peaceful ride. Your first historical stop is Lanercost Priory, a hauntingly beautiful 12th-century ruin that once hosted King Edward I. From here, the route becomes more rugged as you approach Brampton, a market town nestled in the North Cumbrian countryside. If time allows, take a short detour to Talkin Tarn, a scenic glacial lake perfect for an evening stroll.
Distance: 23 kms (14 miles) / Elevation Gain: 317 m (1040 feet) / Saddle Time: 1.5-2.5 hours
Today, you enter the heart of Hadrian’s Wall Country. The route climbs gradually, and soon you arrive at Birdoswald Roman Fort, one of the best-preserved forts along the wall. Take time to explore its ruins and visitor center before continuing east. The ride becomes more challenging as you approach Walltown Crags, where steep ascents reward you with breathtaking views over the rugged landscape. This is one of the most spectacular sections of the Wall. A final descent brings you into Haltwhistle, a town known as the “Centre of Britain.”
Distance: 37 kms (23 miles) / Elevation Gain: 442 m (1450 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-4 hours
A day of true Roman adventure! The ride takes you along the most iconic stretches of Hadrian’s Wall, including Steel Rigg, where the dramatic scenery is unmatched. A visit to Vindolanda is a must—this incredible archaeological site has yielded thousands of Roman artifacts, including the famous Vindolanda Tablets. The terrain continues with rolling hills and countryside lanes as you descend towards the charming town of Hexham. Take time to explore Hexham Abbey, a stunning medieval church, and wander through the bustling market square before settling in for the evening.
Distance: 42 kms (26 miles) / Elevation Gain: 180 m (590 feet) / Saddle Time: 2-3.5 hours
Leaving Hexham, the landscape flattens as you follow the River Tyne. The ride is more relaxed today, allowing you to soak in the lush countryside. Along the way, you pass Corbridge, once a bustling Roman town, and the ruins of Chesters Roman Fort, home to one of the best-preserved bathhouses in Britain. As you approach Newcastle, the urban landscape returns, with a final stretch along the scenic Quayside. You pass Segedunum Roman Fort at Wallsend—the symbolic eastern end of Hadrian’s Wall—before returning to Newcastle for the night.
After completing your cycling adventure yesterday evening, enjoy a relaxing day exploring Newcastle’s rich history and vibrant culture. Stroll along the Quayside, taking in views of the Tyne Bridge and Millennium Bridge, or explore Newcastle Castle, which gave the city its name. If you’re interested in more Roman history, the Great North Museum houses fascinating artifacts from Hadrian’s Wall. Alternatively, unwind in one of Newcastle’s cozy cafés or lively markets before your departure. Whether you choose to delve deeper into history or simply soak in the city’s energy, Newcastle is the perfect place to reflect on your incredible journey through Roman Britain. Safe travels home, and well done on completing an unforgettable cycling adventure!
All our accommodation selections are in-house reviewed. We partner with family-owned, charming guesthouses and hotels where you can relax and recharge. Below are some sample accommodations on our Hadrian’s Wall tours. Depending on availability, the accommodation you stay at may vary but will always be of a similar standard.
This Hotel Du Vin is situated in central Newcastle, with breathtaking views over the quayside and the River Tyne. It offers luxurious accommodation a few minutes’ walk from Manors Rail Station. Each room has fine Egyptian cotton linen, a deep bath and a power shower. Guests can also enjoy a plasma TV, air conditioning and facilities for making tea and coffee. The hotel was once home to the Tyne Tees Steam Shipping Company. It has been converted to offer a magnificent bistro restaurant, Laroche wine tasting.
This is Haltwhistle’s most historic building. The oldest part of the hotel was a Border Reivers’ Pele Tower, dating from the 15th Century. Later it became a Manor House, Excise Office, Coaching Inn, Post Office, Temperance Hotel, Pub and Café. In 1997 they completely restored the building, finding many archaeological and architectural features – many of which have been included in the modern presentation of the reborn Hotel.
Situated in the quaint Cumbrian market town of Brampton, the Howard Arms is a family run pub with a balance of traditional touches and contemporary twists. There are eight bedrooms at The Howard Arms, compromising seven super king rooms/twins and one single room. We are a family run pub that provides guests with a home-from-home feel in our individually designed rooms all with an en-suite, tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TVs and free WiFi.
This tour is in our Gentle difficulty grading. Consisting of a blend of cycle lanes, quiet country roads and riverside trails. You’ll spend most of the ride navigating through rolling countryside & undulating hills. Comfort on shared roads is a must for this tour. The opening half has shorter daily distances with more elevation gain, while the latter half consists of longer distances with majority descent.
We offer E-MTBs, Hardtail Mountain bikes & Gravel bikes for this tour. If you are having doubts about your fitness levels, we recommend selecting an electric bike during booking.
This Hadrian’s Wall tour puts history and discovery above all else. If you appreciate exploring times long past in beautiful country surroundings, this is the tour for you. There is ample time during the riding to wander the landmarks along route and settle in for a long lunch at a traditional British pub.
It is a perfect route for friends to catch up on old times, as well as solo riders on their own path of exploration. The route attracts large amounts of cyclists and hikers from all over the world, giving the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow adventurers too.
You have a choice of bringing your own bike or renting your tour bike through us during booking. For Hadrian’s Wall, the bikes available are quality electric & manual mountain bikes or gravel bikes. If an electric bike is chosen, it will bring the daily saddle time down by approximately 1 hour.
We only partner with the best bike suppliers for all our destinations so you’ll be guaranteed well maintained, premium brand bikes such as Cube, Trek or KTM.
All bike rentals come with helmet, lock and repair kit. A network of mechanics are on call in case of any mechanical issues faced while on tour.
We offer tours on Hadrian’s Wall from April – September. At the start of the tour season, the average temperatures in Newcastle are approximately 10 °C (50 °F). This is the quietest times of the season to miss queues at landmarks. Temperatures peak at 19 °C (66 °F) in July & August. Temperatures as high as 26 °C (79 °F) have been recorded, but these are quite rare. Please see image below for reference.
The western Lake District and Cumbria are historically some of the wettest regions in the UK, but the latter half of the ride in the east is much drier. It is recommended to have emergency wet gear packed at all times while riding. Precipitation in this region is typically lighter and consistent in nature.
We include detailed navigation instructions and GPX files for your ride. Our navigation app is easy to use and we give a detailed instructional video on how to use it. If you are having any difficulty, we are on call at all times to assist you.
You largely follow National Cycle Route 72 and there is frequent marked signage on the routes to keep you on course, as well as many fellow cyclists on the trails to steer you in the right direction.
Included in your tour, is 24/7 message and video support. If you have an issue with navigation, bike breakdown, accommodation, medical, etc, we are at the touch of a button away at all times.
We have an extensive network of suppliers along the route, who will resolve the problem as swiftly as possible.
If you haven’t found the answer you’re looking for above, visit our general FAQ page for more information or simply reach out to us with the “Ask A Question” button on the side.
3* or 4* Accommodation Throughout
Breakfast Each Morning
Transfers While On Tour
Luggage Transfer
Itinerary & Navigation Documentation
Tips & Local Insights
24-Hour Support