Hadrian's Cycleway
- Journey from coast to coast across northern England
- Discover the fascinating history of Hadrian's Wall
- Stay in bike friendly accommodations and enjoy hearty breakfasts
- Explore the Solway Firth, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- The sense of achievement upon arrival in Tynemouth!
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival NewcastleArrive in Newcastle and check in to your hand-picked accommodation, the rest of the day is yours to explore the sights of the city before enjoying time in the rural countryside.
Hotel Indigo Newcastle is a four-star boutique hotel in the heart of the city, heavily influenced by its location within the historic Grainger Town area. The hotel features an on-site Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill restaurant, which is proving to be one of the city’s most popular eateries. Alternatively, the contemporary Grainger Lounge is open for lunch, afternoon tea and light evening dinners - the perfect place to unwind in comfortable surroundings.
Maldron Hotel Newcastle is a brand new 4-star hotel in Newcastle city centre and is located in a prime central location with all of this beautiful city’s attractions right on the hotel’s doorstep. The en suite rooms offer all one would expect of a hotel of this standard, and come with high speed Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TV, toiletries and hairdryer and 24 hour service.
The Malmaison Newcastle is housed in a beautifully converted river-front warehouse, just metres from the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Decorated in deep purples and plush velvets, it has a dramatic, eye-catching modern style. Many of the boutique-style rooms have fantastic views of the River Tyne. Each has mood lighting and a satellite flat-screen Freeview TV. The en suite bathrooms have power showers and free luxury toiletries. With breath-taking views of the river, the bar offers fine wines and fabulous cocktails, while the brasserie serves delicious cuisine made with fresh, local ingredients.
After breakfast, a transfer (1.5 hours) brings you to Bowness-on-Solway to begin your ride to Brampton. Bowness is an area of outstanding beauty and many species of birdlife can be seen in the area. The day's cycling gets off to a gently start along the Solway Firth before reaching Carlisle, from here pedal the rolling landscape to the pretty little market town of Brampton.
The Scotch Arms Mews was originally an Inn, now a B&B with 10 rooms and a bar area to engage in a social drink. The guest bed rooms all have en-suite facilities and the owners have maintained the original features of the building.
Typical Cumbrian Inn in the heart of Brampton. All rooms are en-suite.
Oakwood is an imposing Victorian house built in 1861, standing in its own grounds, surrounded by countryside of outstanding beauty. Oakwood has a fascinating history which can be felt on entering the house. It has kept its Victorian appearance inside and out. Excellent food is served from an extensive menu, with everything homemade. Relax and enjoy the views in the lounge, where you can be served coffee after your meal, afternoon tea, with their home-made produce, or just take things easy with a drink from the bar.
Leave Brampton behind and cycle north passing Banks and Birdoswald where you'll see some well-preserved sections of Hadrian’s Wall. It is well worth diverting from the main route here to view these preserved sections. A long descent into Haltwhistle follows before coming off the cycleway at the summit of Smith's Shield. Tonight sample a local beer in Once Brewed at the Twice Brewed Inn!
Situated within an acre of grounds in the Northumberland National Park, Vallum Lodge is a family run guest house offering excellent en-suite accommodation and personal service.
The Inn is set amongst some of the most breath-taking scenery in England and stands in the shadows of Steel Rigg, without doubt one of the most dramatic parts of Hadrian's Wall. Their guest rooms in the inn are fitted with a flat-screen TV. The private bathroom is equipped with a shower and free toiletries.
Bridge House has fabulous panoramic views of Milecastle 42, Cawfields and Hadrian’s Wall which encompasses its entire northern outlook. The house has two letting bedrooms; a double with an en-suite and a twin-bedded room also with en-suite. Both rooms have been newly refurbished to an excellent standard and have tea and coffee making facilities, hairdryers and televisions with Freeview and a DVD player.
Today you'll pass several important Roman sites along the wall followed by an exceptional ride down to Vindolanda. A slight detour towards Housesteads provides outstanding views over the area. Next climb up to Crindledykes, the highest point on the route (263m above sea level), before reaching the quaint village of Corbridge for your overnight stay.
Peartree House offers excellent accommodation with very accommodating hosts. The B&B is a five-minute walk from the centre of the village with its restaurants, tea rooms and pubs. They offer two en-suite guest bedrooms which have all the amenities you require for a lovely overnight stay.
Fellcroft B&B has been open to the public since 1992, offering B&B rooms in a well-appointed, stone-built Edwardian house. The house is located on a quiet road in Hadrian’s Wall country, within easy walking distance of the centre of Corbridge. Their rooms are simply furnished and have all the amenities you require for a comfortable overnight stay.
The Angel of Corbridge has been a coaching inn dating back to 1752, many people have owned it until the current owners purchased it in 2011.
The final section of the cycleway follows the banks of the River Tyne as it flows east towards the sea. The route makes it's way through Newcastle on dedicated cycle path following the quayside through the city centre where you will catch a glimpse of the Millennium Bridge. The river widens as you reach Wallsend, the starting point of the Hadrian’s Wall walking path, before arriving in Tynemouth where your cycle finishes. We will arrange a time to meet you and pick you up and take you back into Newcastle for your overnight stay.
From Tynemouth you'll be transferred back to Newcastle making for an easier onward journey.
Hotel Indigo Newcastle is a four-star boutique hotel in the heart of the city, heavily influenced by its location within the historic Grainger Town area. The hotel features an on-site Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill restaurant, which is proving to be one of the city’s most popular eateries. Alternatively, the contemporary Grainger Lounge is open for lunch, afternoon tea and light evening dinners - the perfect place to unwind in comfortable surroundings.
Maldron Hotel Newcastle is a brand new 4-star hotel in Newcastle city centre and is located in a prime central location with all of this beautiful city’s attractions right on the hotel’s doorstep. The en suite rooms offer all one would expect of a hotel of this standard, and come with high speed Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities, flat screen TV, toiletries and hairdryer and 24 hour service.
The Malmaison Newcastle is housed in a beautifully converted river-front warehouse, just metres from the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Decorated in deep purples and plush velvets, it has a dramatic, eye-catching modern style. Many of the boutique-style rooms have fantastic views of the River Tyne. Each has mood lighting and a satellite flat-screen Freeview TV. The en suite bathrooms have power showers and free luxury toiletries. With breath-taking views of the river, the bar offers fine wines and fabulous cocktails, while the brasserie serves delicious cuisine made with fresh, local ingredients.
After a hearty English breakfast say your goodbyes to Hadrian's Wall Country and get ready for your onward journey.
This trip has a carbon score of 5kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 5kg is equivalent to 1 Neapolitan margherita pizza. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information on how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?Relaxed cycling for the regular cyclist on a mix of country roads and traffic-free cycle paths. Expect some rolling terrain as you make your way through the beautiful Northumberland countryside. Combine days in the saddle alongside historic Hadrian's Wall with afternoons sampling cream teas and hearty dinners.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling
Solo Travellers
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This cycle is graded moderate. You will cycle along quiet country roads with the occassional stretch on busier roads. The route follows the National Cycle Network, and approximately 32% is traffic-free. The route mainly runs on country lanes and quiet roads, interspersed with sections of traffic-free path, promenade and riverside path. The terrain varies from flatter sections to and rolling hills.
We specifically choose the hotels, inns, guesthouses and B&B's to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. All offer a warm welcome to cyclists, with cycle storage, traditional hospitality and delicious local food.
Single Rooms
If you're travelling with friends or family but would prefer a single room we can arrange this for you with a supplement. The holiday is also available to solo cyclists with a supplement.
Meals
A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch and dinner are not included so you're free to choose from the available options. Some accommodations can provide a packed lunch on request or you'll be able to grab lunch en route from shops or local cafes. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or nearby pubs and restaurants.
The routes are easy to follow and are well-marked as it is part of a National Cycle Network. You will also be provided with a map and a guidebook so you'll have no problem finding the way.
- 5 Nights in B&B's, guesthouses and small hotels
- 5 Breakfasts
- Transfers from Newcastle to the start of the cycle in Bowness (including bike and luggage transfers)
- Transfers from Tynemouth to Newcastle Hotel, station or airport
- Baggage transfers
- Information pack and route notes with maps
- 24/7 Emergency telephone support from our office
- Travel to / from Newcastle
- Bike hire
- Lunches, dinners, drinks & snacks
- Personal equipment
- Travel insurance (required)
- Additional nights along the route
- Bike hire
This trip is available to start on any day between April and September. The weather in northern England can be changeable, like anywhere in the UK, so whenever you go it's best to prepare for all weathers. The driest months tend to be May, early June and September, and the warmest months are July and August.
By Air and Rail: The most convenient international airports to arrive into are Newcastle or Manchester. There are trains from Newcastle Airport to the city centre (25 mins) every 12 minutes. There is also a regular train service between Manchester Airport and Newcastle city centre (3 hours). Please check train times and schedules on the National Rail website.
By Car: Newcastle is a 5 hour drive from London and a 3 hour drive from Manchester. Long term parking is hard to find in the summer months, so public transport is the best option.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 15 kg per person.
Good-quality hybrid Giant Escape or Giant Alight bikes are available to rent as an optional extra. All rentals include a rear luggage rack and panniers (please ask if you want these to be inlcuded), a helmet, a lock, a pump, 2 spare inner tubes, puncture repair kit and multi-tool, water bottle holder, and a handlebar bag. E-bikes are also available (subject to availability) if you'd prefer a little assitance on the hills.
When booking bike hire we will ask for your height so our bike hire partner can make sure your bike is a good fit.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as Hadrians Wall Cycleway is extremely popular especially over April/May and July/August. You will find up to date availability on our website, and we will always try and accommodate your plans.
We offer two itineraries so you can choose your preferred daily distance so hopefully, you will find an itinerary that suits your preferred level of activity. If you currently don’t enjoy an active lifestyle, we suggest regular cycling in hilly terrain supplemented by cardiovascular exercise for at least six months before your cycle. A good gym or personal trainer will be able to draw up a personalised training programme.
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate walkers with dogs as many of the accommodation providers we use do not accept pets.
You can use public transport, the Hadrians Wall bus or local taxis to continue to your next overnight stop. The Hadrians Wall bus can take bikes, but these must be booked on in advance.
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