Hadrian's Wall (Hexham)

The wall the Emperor Hadrian began in AD 122 across the north of England, 73 miles (117 km) from coast to coast and a World Heritage Site. Its finest stretch rides the crags of the Whin Sill in Northumberland, with the forts of Housesteads and Chesters, Vindolanda, where the Roman writing tablets were found (£16), the Roman Army Museum at Walltown, and the gap where the Sycamore Gap tree stood until it was felled in 2023. Hexham, a market town round an abbey with a 7th-century crypt, is the base: 30-40 minutes by train from Newcastle on the Tyne Valley line, and the AD122 bus runs from Hexham past Chesters and Housesteads to Haltwhistle and Walltown every day of the year (£2.50 a ride in 2026). Walkers follow the Hadrian's Wall Path; the forts' car parks charge. Wind and rain blow straight across the crags: bring a waterproof.

Highlights

• Housesteads Roman Fort on the crags
• Vindolanda and its writing tablets
• Wall walk from Steel Rigg past Sycamore Gap
• Chesters Roman Fort's bath house
• Roman Army Museum and Walltown Crags
• Hexham Abbey

Things to do

• Housesteads Roman Fort and the Wall walk along the cragsMorning · 4h
• Vindolanda fort and museum: the writing tabletsAfternoon · 3h
• Chesters Roman Fort and its bath houseMorning · 2h
• Roman Army Museum and Walltown CragsAfternoon · 2h 30m
• Hexham Abbey and the market townEvening · 1h 30m
• Corbridge Roman TownMorning · 2h

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: May – September