Thank you for joining me on this adventure across Hadrian’s Wall. (If this is the first post you’re reading about it, find Hadrian’s Wall I and start there, this is the last section of the series.) I’d like to give a huge thank you to everyone who supported me along the way and those who encourage me every day to learn more about this amazing world we live in. Looking back on the trip on the wall, I think about what I could’ve done to improve my experience and what I did that made it really special. I’m going to cover some of my recommendations and also talk about what gear I brought with me.
Recommendation No. 1:
If you aren’t keen to walk the entire trail coast to coast, I recommend sticking to the area between Chollerford and Gilsland. The area that is primarily in the Northumberland National Park area. (If you don’t remember it, do back to my third day of walking.) This area is by far the most stunning, best-preserved section of the wall. It also features the most challenging terrain and Sycamore Gap. This 26-mile section would be perfect for someone looking to do a weekend hike with a little history and challenge.
Recommendation No. 2:
26 miles is a lot to cover on foot for one day, especially in the kind of terrain that spans Chollerford to Gilsland. When my friend Nikolai stopped at Twice-Brewed for the day, I definitely thought that it was the way to do things. There are several benefits of splitting that day when doing that part of the path; firstly, you get to enjoy the beauty of the area for two days. another benefit is that you have time to visit the nearby Roman Fort Vindolanda. Vindolanda is one of the forts that I did not get to visit because I was too busy making the 26 miles trek to stop. I have heard that it is an amazing fort to visit, however.
Recommendation No. 3:
When on the trail there is a guideline to “Leave nothing and take nothing”, this makes it difficult for anyone who wants to take home souvenirs from their journey. You can, of course, always grab some reproduction pieces from the numerous English Heritage gift shops along the way. What I recommend is that no matter which side of the country you start at, pick up a Hadrian’s Wall Passport at the beginning of your hike. These create amazing souvenirs and allow you to share an authentic piece of the adventure when it is all said and done.
Recommendation No. 4:
There is a phrase in running called “running naked”, and no that doesn’t actually mean going for a run in your birthday suit. It means leaving your headphones, your phone, your smartwatch, and any other modern technology at home and hitting the road in just your running clothes and your shoes. Now for hikes like this, it’s important to have access to your phone in case you need it to call or let people know how the trek is progressing. I would recommend putting your phone in the bag you’re carrying or keeping it in your pocket. Turn off the music and just enjoy the nature and history that surrounds you. I’m not saying I’m perfect with this, I definitely listened to a couple of songs each morning to get the pace going and get moving, but I made sure to limit myself to no more than a couple of songs before I packed up my headphones and walked to the sounds of nature. Also, using your phone less allows you to save battery so if you do need to make a call later in the day you are able to.
Recommendation No.5:
Huge thanks to Mac’s Adventures. Mac’s made it super easy to schedule and plan my trip. Their 24hr service made it also really easy for me to make changes at a moment’s notice similar to when I decided not to stay in Bowness-on-Solway. Mac’s chose great places for me to stay and I would highly recommend using Mac’s when planning your trip to Hadrian’s wall (or any of their other adventures). While I was walking Hadrian’s Wall, my roommate was using Mac’s Adventures to do a hike along England’s historic Jurrasic Coast. (macsadventure.com)
Gear (and where to find it):
Shoes – Brooks Ghost 13 GTX (brooksrunning.com)
Trousers – CQR Outdoor Trousers (amazon.co.uk)
Daypack – Karrimor Urban 30 (karrimor.co.uk)
Travel Backpack – Cabin Max Metz 44L (cabinmax.com)
Selfie Stick – Gritin 3-in-1 (amazon.co.uk)
Water bottle – Nalgene 1L (nalgene.com)
Rain jacket – Columbia Hikebound Jacket (columbia.com)
*EXTRA* My go-to trail bar – Kind Sea Salt and Dark Chocolate
Tymon Burghy 
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