Best of Hadrian's Wall: Humshaugh to Gilsland

Humshaugh to Gilsland in 3 Days Walking Code: HWB4B

This is our shortest route, concentrating exclusively on the section where the wall is intact, and the landscapes are at their most spectacular. Days are short, leaving plenty of time to look around the numerous forts, milecastles, and other Roman remains.

Our Best of Hadrian’s Wall holidays concentrate on the section between Corbridge and Brampton, the classic section of Hadrian’s Wall, where the wall follows the Whin Sill escarpments over rolling countryside. The best preserved sections of the wall are here, as are the best landscapes and views.

We have 3 options to choose from; two 3 day options, plus a 4 day option. This 3 day option is the shortest, and the easiest, keeping the distances to a minimum to give you plenty of time to enjoy your holiday, the wall and the forts of Housesteads and Vindolanda.

Miles Km
Day 1 Travel to Humshaugh for your first nights accommodation
Day 2 Humshaugh to Grindon then transfer to Twice Brewed 9 14
Day 3 Transfer back to Grindon then walk to Twice Brewed 7 11
Day 4 Twice Brewed to Gilsland 8 13
Day 5 Depart from Gilsland after breakfast

Humshaugh to Twice Brewed

The route soon reaches Northumbria National Park and classic Roman Wall country with expansive views and undulating moorland. The route climbs steadily at first, past turrets and a Brocolitia Roman fort; it then becomes more steeply undulating on reaching the Whin Sill escarpment. The views of open moorland, the South Tyne Valley, the Pennines and of the wall itself following ridges ahead are breathtaking. The route passes the well preserved Housesteads Fort and continues in a similar dramatic fashion to Twice Brewed and on to your accommodation.

Twice Brewed to Gilsland

Twice Brewed is a good place to schedule in a rest day so you have time to explore the Vindolanda or Housesteads Roman forts. The route continues to follow the escarpment, over rugged crags of Winshield, all equally as impressive as the previous section. It then passes the remains of Great Chester’s fort and the Roman army museum and continues on to the pretty villages of Greenhead and Gilsland.

Easy

Of the National Trails we cover, this is the easiest. The route covers rolling countryside and moorlands, but not mountains. Many people with limited walking experience have completed this route.

Terrain:  Rolling moorland & agricultural land up to 350m

What’s it like underfoot? Pretty good. Well maintained paths throughout, although sections can get a bit muddy in wet weather .

How much up & down? Numerous short steep climbs, but they never last that long.

Signposting: Good.

Navigation: Pretty straightforward. Well defined paths, and good signposting.

All Holidays
Accommodation Overnight Bed and Breakfast accommodation in selected hotels, farmhouses, village inns, guest houses and family B&Bs.Full English or Continental breakfast.
Guidebook A detailed guidebook with route information, maps, photos and background information.
Information of Services Along the Route A comprehensive Service Info sheet, including services such as cash points, banks, post offices, village shops, inns, cafes and taxis.
Maps A waterproof 1:40000 map from Harvey Maps covering the whole route.
Personal Itinerary A personal itinerary setting out each overnight stop, including large scale maps of each accommodation, to ensure you find it easily.
Emergency Telephone Support If you get in to difficulties during your holiday, we are always available to help, even out of office hours.
12.5% discount at Cotswold Outdoors We will issue you with a 12.5% Discount Card valid at all Cotswold Outdoor stores, and online, for the whole year on confirmation of your booking.
Options
Luggage Transport We will transfer your luggage between each overnight stop – if you leave your luggage at the accommodation when you set off in the morning, it will be moved on to your next B&B. You only need to carry a small day sack with the clothes and provisions you require during the day’s walk.
Packed Lunches
Provided for each day’s walking and recommended on this holiday as there will not always be a handy shop or cafe on the route.
Off Road Parking If you are travelling by car we can usually arrange off road parking for the duration of your trip. (There may be a small charge for this).
Arrangement of return transport We can also arrange your transfer back to your car, (or advise you when public transport is a better option)!
What’s not Included
Evening Meals Your evening meal isn’t included in the package, but we include full details and recommendations for each evening meal in your itinerary. You will normally be within walking distance of a pub and/or restaurant, or where there is good food available at the accommodation, we’ll book that for you. Allow about £20.00 per night.
Transport to the Start & Away from the Finish Have a look at the “Travel Info” tab above for suggestions. If you’re still struggling, get in touch and we’ll help you sort it out.
Travel Insurance Even if you are based in the UK travel insurance is worth having.

Good accommodation and friendly hosts are an essential part of any holiday. We understand this and go out of our way to find the best. We put a great deal of effort into hand picking our accommodation and matching it to individual customer requirements. As well as visiting the accommodation ourselves, we ask all our customers to complete a short evaluation on each night’s accommodation, which then gives us an insight into the day-to-day operation and lets us spot any potential issues before they become a problem.

We use a variety of accommodation. Over the course of your trip you might stay in a village inn, a bed and breakfast in a converted barn, a Victorian guest house, or on a working farm. In selecting the accommodation we look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality, characterful accommodation close to the trail. Occasionally we may use a chain hotel.

We always try to arrange en suite accommodation, i.e. rooms with their own bathrooms for each night of your stay. However, in some of the more remote locations accommodation is limited and occasionally we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms for one or two nights of your holiday, (especially if the booking is made at short notice), but we will always let you know if this is likely to be the case.

We are happy to book single rooms on our holidays but cannot normally book more than two for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.

Here are some examples of the accommodation we use along the Hadrian’s Wall path:

A warm welcome awaits you at the award winning Brookside Villa. Keen walkers Denise and Gerry will be only too happy to share their in-depth knowledge of Hadrian’s Wall, as well as always going out of their way to ensure your comfort and enjoyment. Visit their website

 

Samantha is your host at Vallum Lodge. Her family run guest house offers excellent en suite accommodation and personal service. Such is their proximity to Hadrian’s Wall that the vallum, built 2000 years ago as part of the wall’s fortifications, actually runs through their back garden! Visit their website

General travel information on the Hadrian’s Wall area will be in your holiday pack including train and bus timetables where available.

Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.

To view train times please visit trainline where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline

If you require car parking whilst walking this route, we can usually arrange for you to leave your car either at the start or end locations of the route. You can return to your car by public transport or taxi – please contact us for detailed information.

Getting There:
By Air: Newcastle International Airport (NCL) has its own Metro station (you will need some change for the ticket machine). The journey time from the airport to Newcastle Central Station is around 20 minutes. From Central Station you take the train to Hexham (half hour travel time), then taxi to Humshaugh (about £12 – 15) or by the AD 122 bus to Chollerford roundabout (near Chester’s Fort).
By Public Transport: Take the train to Hexham, then either a taxi to Humshaugh (about £12 – 15), or by the AD 122 bus to Chollerford roundabout (near Chester’s Fort).
By Road: Take the A69 to north of Hexham, then the A6079 to Wall, and the B6318 to Chollerford roundabout.

Returning from Gilsland:
Taxi from Gilsland to Haltwhistle (nearest train station). There is a list of taxi companies in your holiday pack.

Twice Brewed

Twice Brewed is an excellent place for a rest day - in the middle of the most dramatic section of the wall, and close to the best preserved Roman forts. Vindolanda can take the best part of a day - there are extensive remains, a comprehensive museum, and often an archaeological dig in progress. Housesteads and the Roman Army Museum are also close by.

Prices CAD ($)
Accommodation, map & guidebook only $828
with Luggage Transport $861
with Packed Lunches $886
with Luggage & Lunches $916

Other Options

Extra Nights (per night) $160
Single Supplement (per night) $101
Solo Luggage Supplement (per day) $0