What Town(s) for Hadrian's Wall?
 

I am rethinking my itinerary for mid Sept, one night Chester, 4 nights N. Wales, 2 nights Lake District (Windermere), 2 nights Hexham(near Hadrians Wall) 4 nights in York, 1 night Manchester(for the airport). I was thinking about changing from Hexham to Durham(Cathedral & Castle) or Newcastle. I was thinking that Hexham would bejust a tad small & quiet. My DH wants to concentrate on the Wall and it's museums, but I was thinking about doing day trips from Durham. What do you think would be best? I am starting to feel somewhat insecure about my choices ;-). I ahte when that happens :-D.

Meant to say " I HATE when that happens). And I hate when that happens too. I am the world's worse typist.

I'd stay near Haydon Bridge or Haltwhistle (which are even smaller than Hexham). Haltwhistle would be my first choice and is very close to the biggest forts and best parts of the wall.

You can easily visit Durham enroute to York.

Judyrem: I would stay in Durham for the reason you mentioned; magnificent cathedral, interesting castle and quaint town to boot. Easy drive to the wall. Great pub around the corner from the cathedral. Have a great trip.

Thanks Janis for your input. Joegri, I have tentative reservations at the Travelodge in Durham. Will talk it over with DH. I will be up to him. How long a drive to the Wall?

Janis. I saw the Center of Britain Hotel and it looks very interesting IMO. I cancelled the Hexham Royal Hotel...did not state the amenties and facilities, and I was very leary of that.

I don't know the where the Center of Britain Hotel is - can't comment.

But before you finally decide on Durham (which is lovely) check out this site http://www.haltwhistle.org/accommoda...ommodation.htm

It has links to many B & Bs in and near Haltwhistle. Some are walking distance to important stretches of the Wall. If I wanted to concentrate on exploring the wall for a day or two I personally would not stay in Durham.

Janis, that is where I found the Center of Britain Hotel. It looks quite nice and is Haltwhistle.

We stayed in Haltwhistle and I can enthusiatically recommend Ashcroft B&B.

Ashcroft Guest House, Haltwhistle, Northumberland NE49 0DA phone 01434-320213

They didn't have email when i went there (1999) but they may now.

Bigtyke, did they have a Televsion in the rooms? My DH like his news daily...with so much bad news, I hate to watch.

Judyrem, Our family traveled from Chester to Hadrian's Wall, thence to York by way of Durham and Durham Cathedral. We loved Hadrian's Wall, and visited several of the sites along the wall. Stayed at the Vallum Lodge in Twice Brewed (browse to http://www.vallum-lodge.co.uk/ for details). Great base for the area. We only spent one night there, but would have prefered two nights with a full day for exploration. No problem stopping at Durham during the day en route to York for the night.

I'm having some difficulty posting this, keep getting error messages, so I hope it doesn't post four times!!

Judyrem, your best option is to stay in Newcastle, where Hadrian's Wall actually starts.

Newcastle has excellent transport links and you can easily reach the rural sections of the Wall and the forts, as well as Durham, by bus/train/car in only 30 mins. It's also only one hour from York by train (bit longer by car). If you stay in Hexham or Haltwhistle you will end up going via Newcastle to get to Durham or York so you will save yourselves a lot of backtracking if you stay in Newcastle.

It's also a much more interesting place to stay than either Hexham or Haltwhistle, which are very small and quiet. Newcastle has great restaurants, cafes, theatres and shopping. You have a wide choice of accommodation, from upmarket hotels in the vibrant Quayside area or near the historic cathedral and castle, to small guesthouses in the leafy suburbs. Go to www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com

I would also suggest you spend one night longer in the Lake District, because it's so beautiful and there's lots to see and do, and one night fewer in York. 3 nights is probably enough to see something of York and the surrounding area.

The North of England is a (relatively) undiscovered gem, with so much to see and not (yet) spoiled by tourism. Judyrem, you will have a wonderful time!

Britchick, now you really put me in a dither ;-)! Adding another aspect to my decision, does not help :-D. I really want to do Castle Howard, Rivaulx Abbey and Fountain Abbey AND Whitby....I will never get to see it all!!! I guess I will just have to go BACK!

I don't remember having a tv in the room