How long is the Hadrian's Wall and the Eden Valley: A Loop from Carlisle route?

This route takes 7 days taking in 6 stops.

Where does this route start and end?

The route runs from Carlisle, Cumbria to Carlisle, Cumbria in Cumbria and Northumberland, England.

When is the best time to travel this route?

The best time to travel this route is April to October.

How active is this route?

Activity level: Easy-going. Easy-going and accessible for most fitness levels.

What transport do I need for this route?

Any self-driven vehicle works well for this route.

What budget do I need for this route?

Mid-range spending — expect comfortable accommodation and a mix of dining options.

What type of accommodation suits this route?

Mixed accommodation works well along this route.

What is the pace of this trip?

Relaxed — plenty of time to linger at each stop.

What type of trip is this?

This route is well-suited to: Scenic, Culture, Nature, Classic road trip.

Hadrian's Wall and the Eden Valley: A Loop from Carlisle

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The route · 6 stops

1
Carlisle
1 night
Carlisle's Norman castle and 12th-century cathedral stand at the western end of Hadrian's Wall. The city was contested by English and Scottish kings for centuries. Tullie House Museum covers Roman and border history and is the best orientation point before the Wall exploration begins.
Carlisle's Norman castle and 12th-century cathedral stand at the western end of Hadrian's Wall. The city was contested by English and Scottish kings for centuries. Tullie House Museum covers Roman and border history and is the best orientation point before the Wall exploration begins.
Tullie House Museum is free, open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Carlisle Castle (EH) is a 10-minute walk from the train station; admission charged.
2
Brampton
1 night
Brampton is the quietest approach to Hadrian's Wall. Birdoswald Roman Fort is 10 km south on the B6318, with some of the Wall's best-preserved stretches nearby. Lanercost Priory, 8 km south, was built partly from Roman stone pulled from the Wall itself.
Brampton is the quietest approach to Hadrian's Wall. Birdoswald Roman Fort is 10 km south on the B6318, with some of the Wall's best-preserved stretches nearby. Lanercost Priory, 8 km south, was built partly from Roman stone pulled from the Wall itself.
Birdoswald Roman Fort (EH, admission charged) is on Gilsland Road 10 km south. Lanercost Priory (EH) is a further 2 km west via the A69 and minor roads. Members of EH can visit both free.
3
Haltwhistle
2 nights
Haltwhistle is the centre of Hadrian's Wall country. Within 10 km to the north are Housesteads Fort, Vindolanda museum, the Steel Rigg viewpoint and Sycamore Gap. Use two nights to cover these without rushing. Housesteads is the most visited; Vindolanda has the deepest museum collection.
Haltwhistle is the centre of Hadrian's Wall country. Within 10 km to the north are Housesteads Fort, Vindolanda museum, the Steel Rigg viewpoint and Sycamore Gap. Use two nights to cover these without rushing. Housesteads is the most visited; Vindolanda has the deepest museum collection.
Once Brewed Visitor Centre on the B6318 is the base for Housesteads (EH, 1 km north) and Steel Rigg. Vindolanda is 3 km south; allow half a day for the museum and active excavation site.
4
Appleby-in-Westmorland
1 night
The former county town of Westmorland sits in the Eden Valley on a loop of the River Eden, with a Norman castle at one end of Boroughgate and St Lawrence church at the other. The town is best known for the annual Appleby Horse Fair, one of Europe's largest traditional traveller gatherings, held each June.
The former county town of Westmorland sits in the Eden Valley on a loop of the River Eden, with a Norman castle at one end of Boroughgate and St Lawrence church at the other. The town is best known for the annual Appleby Horse Fair, one of Europe's largest traditional traveller gatherings, held each June.
Appleby Castle (applebytrust.org) opens Thursday to Monday, April to October. The Horse Fair in early June fills accommodation months in advance; book well ahead.
5
Penrith
1 night
Penrith is the gateway to the Lake District from the north: a red-sandstone market town with a ruined castle built in the 14th century by Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Brougham Castle, 2 km south on the A66 at the confluence of the Eamont and Lowther rivers, is an English Heritage site with a complete Norman keep.
Penrith is the gateway to the Lake District from the north: a red-sandstone market town with a ruined castle built in the 14th century by Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Brougham Castle, 2 km south on the A66 at the confluence of the Eamont and Lowther rivers, is an English Heritage site with a complete Norman keep.
Brougham Castle (EH, members free) is 2 km south on the A66; open April to October. Ullswater and the Lake District are 15 km south via the A592 from junction 40 of the M6, worth a morning visit.
6
Carlisle
The loop closes at Carlisle. From here the M6 heads south towards the Lake District and Manchester, or north across the border into Scotland. The Settle-Carlisle railway, one of England's finest scenic routes, is also an option for the return journey if you prefer to travel by train.
The loop closes at Carlisle. From here the M6 heads south towards the Lake District and Manchester, or north across the border into Scotland. The Settle-Carlisle railway, one of England's finest scenic routes, is also an option for the return journey if you prefer to travel by train.
Return to Carlisle via the A6 north from Penrith then the M6, about 32 km in 28 minutes. The Settle-Carlisle line departs from Carlisle station; book at thetrainline.com.

Route highlights

Culture
Housesteads Roman Fort
The most visited site on Hadrian's Wall, perched on the Whin Sill ridge above a sweeping Northumberland valley. Founded around AD 124, the 2-hectare garrison fort held up to 800 infantry soldiers. Remains of barracks, a hospital, granaries and the only visible Roman communal latrines in Britain survive.
Culture
Vindolanda
An excavated Roman fort and civilian settlement just south of the Wall, with the most significant collection of Roman documents found in Britain. The Vindolanda writing tablets, discovered from 1973, include personal letters, shopping lists and military rosters from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Active excavations run each year.
Viewpoint
Steel Rigg Viewpoint
The most photographed stretch of Hadrian's Wall, where the Roman structure follows the natural basalt ridge of the Whin Sill with near-vertical drops on the north side. From the car park above Once Brewed, a 30-minute walk east along the Wall reaches the full panoramic view across Northumberland.
Viewpoint
Sycamore Gap
A dramatic dip in the Wall's ridge between two high points, where a lone sycamore tree stood for over a century and featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The tree fell in September 2023. The gap remains one of the most striking viewpoints on the Wall and is still widely visited.
Culture
Carlisle Cathedral
Founded in 1122 as an Augustinian priory and raised to cathedral status in 1133, Carlisle Cathedral is the second smallest in England but has exceptional medieval stained glass and finely carved choir stalls. It is the only English cathedral that was ever under Scottish rule, from 1135 to 1157 during the reign of King David I.
Scenic Drive
Eden Valley Pastoral Drive
The A686 south from Haltwhistle through Alston to Appleby runs through the South Pennines and into the broad Eden Valley, where the landscape changes from exposed moorland to green farmland and river meadows in under 40 minutes. The River Eden is visible from several points along the A66 between Appleby and Penrith.

Hadrian's Wall and the Eden Valley: A Loop from Carlisle

The route · 6 stops

Carlisle

Brampton

Haltwhistle

Appleby-in-Westmorland

Penrith

Carlisle

Route highlights

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Hadrian's Wall and the Eden Valley: A Loop from Carlisle

The route · 6 stops

Carlisle

Brampton

Haltwhistle

Appleby-in-Westmorland

Penrith

Carlisle

Route highlights

Photos & videos · 0

No photos yet

Frequently asked questions

Ratings & reviews

Comments · 0

No comments yet

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