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In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, host Jonathan Thomas interviews Emily Graver, an adventure operations specialist at Macs Adventure, about the Hadrian’s Wall walk. Jonathan is planning to walk the trail, a lifelong goal, in summer 2026. They discuss the history, planning, and preparation needed for this iconic 84-mile trail that runs across Northern England. Emily shares insights on logistics, fitness requirements, and the best sections to explore, as well as tips for packing and dealing with unpredictable British weather. The conversation also highlights local attractions, accommodations, and the support available for walkers, making it a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in this historic journey. Please help Jonathan make this dream of the walk happen by purchasing the special limited edition fundraiser Hadrian’s Wall 2026 Calendar. Links in the show notes below.
Note: Cover image in podcast is NOT Hadrian’s Wall, it’s Hardknott Roman Fort nearby in Cumbria (I don’t have any pictures of Hadrian’s Wall…yet).
Links
- Hadrian’s Wall Special Calendar
- Jon’s Hadrian’s Wall Announcement Post
- Hadrian’s Wall Update
- Anglotopia & Londontopia 2026 Calendar Fundraiser
- Macs Adventure Hadrian’s Wall Walks
- Cicerone Hadrian’s Wall Guidebook
- Hadrian’s Wall Path: British Walking Guide
- Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail official website
- Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus (AD122) timetables and routes
- Friends of Anglotopia
Takeaways
- Hadrian’s Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular long-distance walk.
- The walk requires careful planning and preparation, especially regarding fitness and logistics.
- Walking 15 to 30 kilometers a day is common, and the terrain can be hilly.
- Packing for all seasons is essential due to unpredictable British weather.
- Booking accommodations in advance is highly recommended, especially for summer months.
- The East to West route offers a unique experience of walking from a busy city to peaceful countryside.
- Vindolanda is a must-visit site along the route, known for its historical significance.
- Solo walkers will find camaraderie on the trail, while group walkers may face accommodation challenges.
- The app provided by Macs Adventures offers useful information and emergency contacts for walkers.
- Public transport links to the starting points of the walk are very good, making travel easier.
Sound Bites
- 1. On the physical challenge: “The biggest mistake people make is they underestimate the level of walking that’s involved. You are walking like 15 to 30 kilometres a day. It’s also very hilly. There’s a lot of ascent and descent.”
- 2. On booking timing: “May is booking up a lot for people, very keen people that are ready to go on holiday for next May. It books up really, really quickly. So I’d really recommend if you’ve got like, if you want to… book ahead now.”
- 3. On the route direction debate: “I personally did the East to West and I prefer it because you’re going from like quite a busy city, Newcastle, and then you’re slowly walking towards like really peaceful areas… You’re also following the route that the wall was originally built by the Romans.”
- 4. On the most challenging section: “The most challenging section is between a cute little village called Once Brood and the Hayton Gate turn off. It’s very, very hilly… you are looking at 18 miles total in that one section.”
- 5. On accommodations: “I will say with the Hadrian’s Hall, there’s less opportunities to upgrade your accommodation just because of the places we work with. They’re very, very small. So it will tend to be more bed and breakfasts and inns.”
- 6. On the historical discovery at Vindolanda: “They’ve discovered preserved handwritten parchments from Roman soldiers writing letters home… this Roman soldier asking his mum for a new pair of socks because it’s so chilly and things like that.”
- 7. On the full English breakfast challenge: “My personal point of view, accommodations will serve you such a big full English breakfast that by the time it gets to lunch, I don’t usually need any. I can just power on through because like it’s like sausages, bacon, eggs…”
- 8. On solo walking: “For solo walkers, I would say that Hadrian’s Walk is a really nice walk for solo walkers because of the camaraderie that you’ll get… as soon as you walk and you see someone, you say hello, you’ll get chatting.”
- 9. On essential packing: “I learned the hard way blister plasters, you have to pack them because my feet were absolutely awful and then I got to this lovely accommodation… very kind lady there gave me her pack of blister plasters.”
- 10. On weather unpredictability: “I will say the weather is unpredictable. You need to pack for all seasons, but that’s just, that’s British weather. And we love talking about the weather. That’s like our passion.”
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Hadrian’s Wall
- 02:17 Overview of the Hadrian’s Wall Route
- 03:44 Common Mistakes for First-Time Walkers
- 05:55 Logistics and Planning for the Walk
- 08:09 Best Times to Walk Hadrian’s Wall
- 10:40 Fitness Preparation for the Walk
- 11:45 Choosing the Right Direction
- 14:48 Challenging Sections of the Walk
- 17:03 Prioritizing Sections for Shorter Walks
- 18:43 Luggage Transfer Logistics
- 20:20 Water and Food Considerations
- 22:24 Weather Preparedness
- 24:43 Essential Packing List
- 26:46 A Typical Day on the Wall
- 28:28 Accommodation Options Along the Wall
- 32:40 Memorable Moments on the Walk
- 34:37 Comparing Other UK Trails
- 35:32 Getting to the Starting Point
- 37:11 Local Sites and Museums to Visit
- 39:22 Food Experiences Along the Route
- 40:34 Support for Walkers
- 42:08 Solo vs Group Walking Considerations
- 43:33 Insider Tips for the Walk
- 44:37 National Trust Sites Along the Walk
- 45:58 Next Adventures After Hadrian’s Wall
- 51:46 anglotopia-podcast-outro.mp4