Best place to walk along Hadrians Wall to see the wall and Roman ruins

I would suggest that you explore this site. http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/hadrianswall/ It will provide you with lots of information about walking along the wall. I stayed in Hexham and then went up and explored the wall. I saw Chesters and Houstead. Pam

We stayed in Haltwhistle at the Centre of Britain Hotel, very reasonably priced, very nice rooms and wonderful breakfast included. Dining at the hotel in the evening was a gourmet's delight! We took the local bus to Chester's Fort, and just down the road from the bus stop at Chester's is a lovely public garden. We then headed to Housesteads, where there is a really good piece of the wall to walk on. Be aware that weather in the area is often cool and rainy, so dress appropriately. We were there in July in the pouring rain!

One of the nicest places to walk is from Steel Rig to Housteads. The wall is still there, but the reason it is still there is the fact that when the trail is not going up, it is going down. You can take the hadrians wall bus back at the end of the hike. Be sure to stop in the information office in Once Brewed.

When we were there in July 2007, it rained almost every day. We did a lot of sites in one long day of driving, in the rain from Carlisle to Chesters.

Be sure to stop at Vindolanda.

Tom

Thanks to you three for the feedback. Very helpful. I have selected a B&B (Strand) near the Housesteads/Chesters area. The proprieters indicates there is approx a 5 hour walk to these areas and along the wall. How is the terrain?

As I indicated before, where the wall is in the best shape, the terrian is very rugged. Where the terrain is the easiest the wall is pretty well gone. Look at the Hadrians wall web site for more info, the tourist info center at Once Brewed is also great. During the summer the Hadrians Wall bus hits the big sites making one way travel easy.

Tom

Joe, We went to the Housestead Roman fort. Not only is the wall there, but also the best Roman info I've seen in England. The old fort is easily visible and we actually saw jousting there as well.

Thanks to you all for your input. We visited Hadrians Wall yesterday and were at Vindolanda today. The walk from Steele Rigg to Housesteads along the all (about 3 miles) was drop dead gorgeous (a little rigorous at times, but very doable). Absolutely the right choice suggested by many of you. Vindolanda is also a must. There is an active acheological dig going on and we spent one of our unexpected 4 hours there talking to the son of the curator who is one of five archeologists on site. Learned much and actually was with him when he found a Roman coin. There are 9 Roman forts built on this one site over some 400 years by the Romans. The first fort predates the wall which was put up in 122 AD. If you would like to know more--feel free to contact me--I can send pics and other info...Chesters was also suggested, and I hear it is also quite nice by the people here--we just did not end up having enough time to do it all. Net, the advise you all gave me was right on the money. Seriously, many thanks.

Thanks for posting after your visit, Joe! I'm planning a trip to England this summer and am considering walking the whole length of the wall... I've got one of those milestone birthdays coming up and would like to do something I'd remember, and the history nerd in me also loves the idea.

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your piece of it!