VERY interesting, thursdaysd. I don't imagine it would be a thing I'd do if I could (although one never knows), but fascinating as something to watch, especially with my feeling for walking. As a spectator event, I guess you could say.

I don't want to bore everyone with all the particulars but briefly, my own plodding around the countryside, for some reason likely genetic, is centered in England. It's also so easy to do there with the infrastructure in place, well maintained & easily followed paths and local rights-of-way, villages & towns well-spaced one to the next historically for those taking goods to market when people walked to market, and today's walkers keeping it all very alive.

I assume you’ve found the ‘official’ website for the walk but if you haven’t here it is:

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/hadrians-wall-path

It lists various companies that will book everything for you

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/hadri...liday-planning

and baggage transfer companies

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/hadri...ggage-services

Don’t underestimate the changeability of the weather so make sure your waterproofs are tried and tested (and bring sunscreen). It’s also steep up and down in parts so a walking pole or two might prove handy.

There are many guide books but I found the official one to be the best – it includes excerpts from OS maps; you can’t get lost.

https://shop.nationaltrail.co.uk/col...ant=5706744453

Don’t be surprised if you have to walk a little way off the trail to your accommodation – it is fairly remote country with few nearby choices. You’ll likely stay in farmhouses and b&bs not hotels.

Walking west to east, the extant Wall doesn’t really get going until about Birdoswald and peters out about Chollerford. Though you can see the route of the Vallum in fields, and modern-day straight roads all the way into Newcastle. Parts of the Wall were put back together a couple of hundred years ago, and when you look at that distant medieval church or ancient farmhouse ask yourself what it’s made of.

Do visit Vindolanda.

Definitely visit Vindolanda, as sfsg suggests, it's a very atmospheric site.

You should bear in mind that a lot of the route of the wall is across country and the terrain is very up and down. This will slow you down somewhat and can be quite hard going for long stretches--it's not just a stroll along the wall. In some places you will follow the present day roads where the wall runs alongside, but you're still subject to the undulations of the land. You will also have stretches where nothing still exists.

Incidentally, we were at Birdoswald last week on a day out and it is a breathtaking site. For those who may not know, it's in the longest unbroken stretch of wall still in existence and the ruins give an idea of the scale of the task of just building the thing and it's fortifications around 1800 years ago.

and possibly the best place to stay on the Wall is this brand new hostel

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2...-hostel-review

>>You’ll likely stay in farmhouses and b&bs not hotels.<<

Normally yes -- but the OP is talking about a group of more than 6 people. Finding farmhouse B&Bs w/ 3 or 4 or more available rooms will mean booking months in advance.

Also - with the large age range -- are all equally fit? This will be a strenuous endeavor . . .

Another satisfied Contours customer here, though no doubt other companies offer a comparable service (Mickeldore is one some fellow travellers seemed happy with).

You will need walking shoes or boots with a decent tread on (the ankle support of boots may come in useful at some points), as it can be slippy where there's been rain; and you will need to bring clothes for all weathers.

https://www.sloweurope.com/community...ans-wall.1761/

My first walk was the first part of the Cotswold Way and I was completely unprepared for the difficulty of the endeavor, in my 50s and fairly fit. Though I did eventually complete the entire path, my first time out defeated me after a couple of days.

I suspect, for those of us who haven't been brought up walking over hill & dale in all weather, it's not unusual to find it much harder than it was in imagination, and why I alluded to it above, first-hand experience and I'm just glad I wasn't slowing down a whole group, no one but myself to disappoint.

I don't think it's been mentioned if this is a first time out but I do have the impression it is. If that is the case and I was asked for advice on the route (I wish I'd had someone to ask) for such a variety of ages and maybe abilities, I'd suggest a largely flat walk that has lots of stopping places nearby along the way. I'd suggest a waterway with a towpath, like the Kennet & Avon Canal out of Bath, or the Thames Path. All the beauty & fun with a fraction of the hard work. It's those sorts of walks I do now and am a happier walker as a result.

To what Patrick said, "You will need walking shoes or boots with a decent tread...," I'll add VERY well broken-in shoes or boots. This is essential. Don't buy new ones 2 weeks before the trip and because they feel comfortable think they'll be fine. This may be the single most important piece of the puzzle, far more important than who carries your luggage. When in doubt, wear the old ones.

I have not walked the length of the Wall - or even more than 10 miles on any one visit - but over the years I've probably walked 2/3 of the route. Unless everyone in your group is seriously fit, and regularly walks say 20k a day over very hilly terrain in all types of weather -- 5 or 6 days is a big undertaking. Has your friend been to Cumbria/Northumberland before?


>>I'd suggest a waterway with a towpath, like the Kennet & Avon Canal out of Bath, or the Thames Path.<<

Granted those are a long way from the Wall and not the same sort of 'bucket list' experience, but would be much more doable with a group.

I'd choose "doable" over a fantasy any day. Dreams can turn into nightmares pretty quickly in UK weather, north or south. I learned the hard way but then I didn't have the advantage of the resources of the internet as they are today or Fodor's to tweak those all-important details. And there are canals all over the UK, not just in the south. I mention those because I've walked them and I've found the weather is better, generally speaking. But I have a feeling this group is committed to the fantasy.

I'm not trying for a moment to stifle the dream because I believe in it myself. However we have to help those dreams come true by giving them the best possible chance of success.

Wow, thanks for all the links and details everyone!

MmePerdu- I also like the idea of walking from point to point with a new destination each day and different place each night. I think this is what my friend wants as well. In terms of other destinations vs. Hadrian's Wall, this is not my call to make, it's her party so to speak.

sofarsogood- thanks for all the links. Yes, I've seen the official site, but it's a good reminder to take another look. That hostel looks great, though I'm doubting that's what my friends will want. :-)

PatrickLondon- thanks for the link to your trip report. That's exactly what I was hoping to see (people's personal experiences with the route and specific companies).

Regarding boots- yes, they are very, very important! I bought a new pair of boots before my trip to Scotland this summer and got very lucky. I put 6-10 miles a day on them with nary a blister or wet foot. I did some 3-5 mile walks before the trip to "break them in" but it really wasn't necessary.
I HIGHLY recommend these boots. Also, I went to REI and tried on 4-5 different brands in different sizes before I decided on what felt best for my feet. Also recommend that (have someone there fit you). I ended up a half size larger than I would have expected.
https://www.rei.com/product/803672/a...g-boots-womens

As for if everyone will have the same fitness, that I do not know, but we will do our best to clarify the details of the walking to all involved.

About the Hadrian's Wall bus mentioned above. It's the AD122, runs parallel to and mostly within a mile or so of the Wall.

http://hadrianswallcountry.co.uk/travel/bus

Another option might be to base yourself somewhere central to the best bits, like Haltwhistle, and use the bus to get to different parts of the wall to walk, or to alternative rainy-day attractions (and yes, Vindolanda is a must - you see the human details, of people inviting each other for meals, a soldier asking for warm socks and the like).

Excellent report Patrick, I was at vindolanda in July this year and it was pretty chilly and gusty even at that time of year and I'm one of the t-shirt wearing January night out on the toon brigade

Janissj, I am the one at the 70ish end of the age spectrum, and I will guarantee that they will be sitting down while I am still walking...of course, I take small steps. :)

All of these suggestions are wonderful and will be a big help in the planning.

Bookmarking.

We only stopped in at Chester on our way up to Scotland last summer. It was pouring pretty hard the day we were there in late June. Still very interesting and would like to see more someday.

>>We only stopped in at Chester <<

Assuming you mean re Hadrian's Wall - that would be Chester<B><red>s</B></red>. Chester is a city on the other side of the country in Cheshire.

Saving all this great info

Janis, it is the one called Chesters Roman Fort. We went and caught the A68 from quite near there. (I had thought there was an apostrophe and it was singular.)

>>Janis, it is the one called Chesters Roman Fort. <<

I know, that is why I corrected it and posted Chester<B>S</B>.

You mentioned Chester (sans the 's') which is a different place.

We stayed at a lovely B and B in Haltwhistle in June a couple of years ago and yes, the weather was cold, rainy and windy, but we really enjoyed walking along the wall.