Alternatives to packing hiking poles

I’d just look for outdoor stores near the start of your hike and see if you can either rent or buy an inexpensive pair.

Have you considered checking only your hiking poles? I usually fly an airline that doesn’t charge for checked luggage, I have checked only my collapsible poles in a lightweight nylon duffel bag. You can wrap them in cardboard or newspaper or bubble wrap to protect them in transit and ditch the protective materials after you arrive.

One more thing …
This is a UK based company that rents outdoor equpment and they have hiking poles starting at 8 GBP. Perhaps you could have them sent to your hotel. I have no personal experience with this company.
https://www.outdoorhire.co.uk/

Check with your lodging. They may have some to lend out, that past guests have left. We found this to be the case both in the Dolomites and Switzerland.

Yes, they are not allowed in carryon, which I am with you and would love to bring my own poles. We are checking a bag this time, but I don't want to bring mine and risk losing them. We will have a camper for the first part of the trip, so that company has them for our use. After that though, we will have a regular car so need to buy a pair anyway for the rest of the hiking trip. It isn't ideal, but will work. I would ask on a Facebook page for that area and see what people have for suggestions.

Laura’s mention of the Outdoorhire company is interesting. I wasn’t aware of them, and after I clicked on the link, they seem to really be able to provide gear for everything up to an outright expedition. In the right situation, they could be very useful. For the heck of it, I put a set of rental poles in My Cart, and selected a 10-day period. Ten days bumps the rental from £8 to about £13, and then there’s a £19 delivery charge. That’s far less than what a new pair of top-end poles would cost to buy, but you’re still looking at a £27 or more cost. By comparison,

1) It’s been 8 years now since we hiked Hadrian’s Wall, end to end. We brought our own trekking poles, hiking boots, extra layers of clothes, etc., and checked them in a single full-sized duffle bag. We had daypacks that we carried onboard. It was good to have our own poles, and while it meant checking a bag, that was the trade-off. The poles were extra helpful in the area approaching Twice Brewed and Housesteads Fort, and that area had forested areas, too, but I don’t recall limbs on the ground for hiking stick potential. Maybe there was a wooden staff or two somewhere along the route that week, leaning against a gate near a parking lot - I don’t recall, but if anyone did leave any stick, there sure weren’t many. But I wasn’t looking for one, either, so perhaps I just overlooked them. I sure don’t think you can count on there definitely being any.

2) Ireland in May (2 months ago), we started hiking places in County Cork, but my main concern was climbing to the top at Skellig Michael later in the trip, and was absolutely doing carry-on luggage only this trip. Our B&B wasn’t going to have poles. There was a good outdoor shop in Cork city (Outdoor Adventure Store), and they had their store brand poles on sale - maybe €34, I don’t remember exactly. Well, having the poles was essential, but I couldn’t get them home at the end of the trip doing carry-on, so I found another outdoor shop (Trespass) in Ennis, and donated them our last day. Couldn’t trade them in or get any resale, didn’t plan to mail them home, but they assured me that they would find somebody suitable to give them. A stray pole had been given to a disabled homeless person previously, and unfortunately it sounded like Ennis, Ireland had one or more additional people in that situation that the store operator knew of. So if it would cost $30 or $40 to have poles whether you bought or rented either way, perhaps just getting cheap (but actually good) poles for while you needed them, then donating them so you can go home carry-on only, might be worth considering. I wasn’t going to just throw away mine, so I’m happy with giving them away, The cost was worth having poles when needed, but then being able to carry on luggage and not wait at the bag carousel once I got home. And no arrangements to make collecting or returning rented gear.

We hiked the Scottish Highlands last year and had the same situation. I googled sporting goods stores in Edinburgh and looked at the prices of their poles. I found poles at Sports Direct for under 20 pounds. When we got there the poles weren’t top line but were plenty sturdy enough and similar to ones you might find at Walmart. We bought two sets and used them on all our hikes. When we returned to Edinburgh we went back to the same store and bought a duffel bag long enough to pack the poles. We packed our dirty clothes with the poles and put our purchases in our carry on bags. We had free checked bags and through tickets homes so didn’t have to worry about rechecking baggage. Now the poles are for our two grandsons. If you don’t want to bring them home I would try to donate them locally. We would have done that if we hadn’t seen the very reasonable price duffle bag when we bought the poles.
I actually also bought a jacket and gloves at Sports Direct since I dropped mine at the airport on the way over. Got a better jacket and glove again for an unreal low price. If you are in London first I just looked and there are plenty of Sports Direct stores there to choose from.

Since walking is such a popular pastime for the Brits I'd suggest checking with your hosts to see if they have loaners for guest use.

Have you accommodation in Berwick upon Tweed? If so Mountain Warehouse at 41 Marygate, and Trespass at 84 Marygate, both sell cheap walking poles.

The other place would be Millets at 24 Fore St, in Hexham...

You won't find many suitable shops along Hadrian's Wall, you are correct. You will find one in Corbridge (Jack Wolfskin). There was an independent store in Hexham (Edge) but I think it has gone.

If you are coming in from the Newcastle end there are a few options there.

I'd checked out Newcastle for places near Central Station. LD Mountain Centre and Cotswold Outdoors were eyewateringly expensive for Walking poles. Rohan were also quite expensive too. Army and Navy Surplus Store at 52 Pilgtim Street may be a possible... .

I asked at one of my Airbnb and they have poles to lend us so that was a good ask. I've written another and hope that they will have something too, that we can use. Thank you everyone for your ideas!

We had zero issues with carrying on hiking poles last year flying Barcelona - Budapest via Zurich and Venice to Barcelona

I wonder if trekking poles in popular hiking destinations will be common amenities at B&B’s, more and more in the future? Glad you’ve located at least one place that can loan you poles, Shelley.

I always put my trekking poles in a checked bag. For many trips we usually do some kind of day hike, so I will put the poles, water bottles, day packs, first aid, sunscreen, boots, etc into that bag. I have heard some people just buy their poles when they get over to Europe, particularly those doing one of the Caminos.

We travel to Europe often for walking trips. We have dealt with this issue many times. Our solution is to wrap our poles in bubble wrap for protection and put them in a foldable duffel bag. We them check that bag. It usually costs anywhere from $50-$75 for a check-in bag. (We are traveling in a small group, so all poles go in one bag and we split ghe cost). That's cheaper than buying another set of poles when you get there.
Upon arrival, we fold up the duffel bag and carry it in our carry-on suitcase. Coming home is not a problem as British customs allow the poles in your carry-on. We did have to buy shock-corded hiking poles because our telescoping poles were too long for our carry-on suitcases.
I also like to hike with a pocket knife. I've purchased them at Dollar Tree for $1.25 and packed them in the duffel with the poles. At the end of the trip I just leave them behind.