📷 Photo by Mathis Mauprivez on UnsplashHadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham
Roman forts, a museum of soldiers’ letters and the wall riding its cliffs along the old Military Road.
- Distance
- 74 km (46 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 02 min
- Suggested days
- 2
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- United Kingdom
- Updated
- July 4, 2026
At a glance: 2-day road trip of about 74 km (46 mi) with 7 stops, from Carlisle to Hexham. About 1 h 02 min of driving in total.
More road trips in United Kingdom · More road trips from Windermere
Route description
Carlisle has a red sandstone castle and cathedral and a good museum on the Roman frontier. Head east on the A69 and minor roads to Birdoswald, a fort above the river Irthing with a long section of wall standing beside it.
Haltwhistle is a handy stop for supplies. Just beyond, join the B6318, the Military Road built in the 18th century partly on top of the wall. At Steel Rigg the wall climbs along a line of crags above Crag Lough; walk east along it towards Sycamore Gap for the classic views.
Vindolanda, in a valley just south of the road, is where the famous writing tablets were found, and excavations continue every summer. Housesteads, a few kilometres east, is the most complete fort on the wall, laid out on a ridge with wide views over the moors.
End the day in Hexham, a market town around an abbey founded in the 7th century. The Military Road is long, straight and hilly with few passing places for overtaking, so drive it patiently; in summer the AD122 bus links the main sites if you prefer to leave the car.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Carlisle
United Kingdom - 230 km
Birdoswald Roman Fort
HistoryGilsland, United KingdomA Roman fort above a bend of the river Irthing, next to one of the longest continuous stretches of Hadrian’s Wall.
- 312 km
Haltwhistle
United Kingdom - 47 km
Steel Rigg
ViewsOnce Brewed, United KingdomThe wall at its most dramatic, riding a line of cliffs above Crag Lough. From the car park a rough path follows it to Sycamore Gap, where the famous tree stood until 2023.
- 53 km
Vindolanda
HistoryBardon Mill, United KingdomAn excavated Roman fort and village where archaeologists still dig each summer. Its museum holds the wooden writing tablets, letters written by soldiers and their families.
- 64 km
Housesteads Roman Fort
HistoryHaydon Bridge, United KingdomThe best preserved fort on the wall, spread across a windswept ridge. It is an uphill walk of about 10 minutes from the car park.
- 719 km
Hexham
United Kingdom
Suggested stages and overnight stops
2 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Carlisle → Haltwhistle · 41 km · 0 h 34 minOn the way: Birdoswald Roman Fort.Overnight nearby, for example: Herding Hill Farm Camping (1 km); Hadrian's Wall Campsite (3 km).
- Day 2: Haltwhistle → Hexham · 33 km · 0 h 27 minOn the way: Steel Rigg, Vindolanda, Housesteads Roman Fort.Overnight nearby, for example: Wellhouse Farm Caravan Park (11 km); Wellhouse Farm Camping site (11 km).
Best time to go
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–September. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- United Kingdom: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Drive on the left. Some bridges and tunnels charge tolls.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham?
2-day road trip of about 74 km (46 mi) with 7 stops, from Carlisle to Hexham. About 1 h 02 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham?
We suggest 2 days: about 1 h 02 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham start and end?
It starts in Carlisle and ends in Hexham.
Which countries does Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham pass through?
United Kingdom.
Where can you camp along Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham?
OpenStreetMap lists 73 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Haltwhistle - Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Herding Hill Farm Camping and Hadrian's Wall Campsite.
When is the best time for Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham?
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–September. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
