I'm very pleased to see a dedicated forum for the Hadrian's Wall Path. Thanks to the admin folks.

We're planning to walk the path next May, and have enjoyed reading the posts from those who have written about it on other threads.

Anyone walked it West to East recently?

Walked west to East in march over a 6 day period, camped out for 2 nights and stayed in pubs the rest. Lovely walk, was pleased that i did it from west to east as the wind was on my back for most of the way and it rained for 3 days.

I think more people tend to do it West to East as it's easier to get out of Newcastle then Bowness.

I remember seeing quite a few discussions about this topic last year in the "Other Walks Forum" before I set of on the walk.

The negative points about the West to East crossing were that you ended up having to walk through Byker to get to Wallsend and also you would miss out on the 'celebratory atmosphere' you find in the Kings Arms when you finish. I mean what would you do when you finish it at Segdunum? Buy a suvenier and go home?

Either way, its the middle bits that are more fun, as the Wallsend-Heddon and Carlisle-Bowness legs are really nothing more than a slog.

[This message has been edited by Onslow2 (edited 21 June 2006).]

I'm now finalising the route of a new circular long distance walk which incorporates the Hadrians Wall Walk, a mostly coastal stretch from Wallsend to Robin Hoods Bay, the Coast to Coast Walk and a stretch from St Bees to Bowness, a distance of nearly 500 miles and aimed at those who don't think it's worth getting their boots on for much less than a month. If for it you do one of the established walks east to west then you do the other west to east and the main question is whether to do the walk clockwise or anticlockwise.

As I'm doing the C2C in September, all I need to do is the coastal bits and I can be a veteran of the "Lizard's Circle"

As pete mentioned, walking the path from West to East has the added benefit of the prevailing winds at one's back. That's one of the main reasons why we'll probably walk it W to E when we walk it next year.

I agree with Onslow2, though, re the middle bits being the most interesting.

Lizard's Circle sounds like fun. I've nearly bagged it too.

I've done Hadrian's Wall (E to W is the best way despite the prevailing winds), the Cleveland Way (so have walked the E coast from Saltburn down to Filey) and am setting out on C2C next week.

Not too sure I'd want to do the walk between St Bees and Bowness tho'. What would be the highlights?

How many days are you doing it in HikeMania?

Pete, we're going to allow extra time to explore some of the forts & camps along the way. We'll also likely walk the extra miles between Segedunum and Arbeia to make it a full coast-to-coast walk. Our plans aren't definite yet, but I imagine we'll stretch it out to a 9-10 day walk.

Just a quickie to inform users of a new Hadrian's Wall Blog, http://hadrianswallforum.proboards.com. This new forum is aimed as a new resource for anyone wanting to know more info or impart any information or experiences.

Please sign up and get involved.

Thanks