Known for its amazing Roman ruins, archeological sites, and dominating wall that runs the width of Northern England, Hadrian’s Wall is a popular attraction for history lovers and multi-day walking adventures.
However, if you’re enjoying a multi-day hike, no one wants to double back to reach their car at the end of a long day. Maybe, you can’t drive at all, or you just want a sustainable way to reach this historic icon? Well, here’s how to get to Hadrian’s Wall by public transport, by someone who has been there.
Where is Hadrian’s Wall?
First things first, where is Hadrian’s Wall? Well, despite most people thinking it’s the English-Scottish border, it’s about an hour’s drive further south than that. In fact, it’s never been the border, even in Roman times.
The coast-to-coast Hadrian’s Wall route goes from Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast, about an hour outside Carlisle all the way across to Wallsend in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. However, many people hike the central 4-day section from Walton to Chester’s Roman Fort.
This line goes directly in the middle of Carlisle and Newcastle through the Northumberland countryside. So, getting to these key hubs is a critical part of getting to Hadrian’s Wall without having a car.
Main Rail Hubs
The main rail hubs for Hadrian’s Wall are Carlisle and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Depending on which side of the country you’re coming from which largely dictates which side you come in on.
If you’re coming from Liverpool, Manchester, or Glasgow, you’re on the West Coast mainline, so you’ll likely come into Carlisle. If you’re coming from Norfolk, York, or Nottingham, you’re on the East Coast mainline and it’s easier to get to Newcastle.
Of course, there is some cross-over between the routes, especially if they go through Sheffield. If you’re coming from Birmingham, London, or the Southwest, chances are you can get to either side, depending on the route and departure station.
For example, London Euston follows the West Coast mainline, whereas Kings Cross follows the East Coast. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it tends to be the case.
Regional Rail Routes
Once you’re at either Carlisle or Newcastle, you need to jump on the regional rail route that runs between the two. This train leaves every 30 minutes and is operated by Northern Rail.
Along the way, it stops at a few of the major towns that are bases for visiting the wall including:
- Brampton
- Haltwhistle
- Bardon Mill
- Haydon Bridge
- Hexham
- Corbridge
- Riding Mill
- Stockfield
- Prudhoe
- Wylam
Regardless of whether you’re choosing one base to return to or if you’re starting at one end and staying somewhere new each night, you want to make sure at least the start and end points are along this route. You can book these tickets and the mainline tickets on Omio for ease.
National Coaches
If you want a more budget-friendly option of getting to either Carlisle or Newcastle, Flixbus now operates to both destinations. You can also find National Express coaches to and from both cities as well. From there, you’ll still need to get on the regional train to reach the wall, but it can be a lot cheaper and a lot more reliable than UK trains at the moment.
The other bonus is that you often get one piece of hold luggage included with a coach ticket. This might be a large trek backpack, a tent, or other gear for your journey. It’s a lot more convenient than trying to find room on a busy train luggage rack!
Local Buses
Handily, there is a bus that runs right along the main road just below Hadrian’s Wall. It’s the number AD122, named after the year the hall started construction. This shuttles back and forth between the major towns and has stops at key attractions like Housesteads Fort, Vindolandia, and more.
This makes point-to-point transport easy as you can just jump on the bus further down the wall without having to double back to a car park or a different bus route. It makes the whole experience super easy on public transport.
