# Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham

> 2-day road trip of about 74 km (46 mi) with 7 stops, from Carlisle to Hexham. About 1 h 02 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b6-hadrians-wall/

**At a glance:** 2-day road trip of about 74 km (46 mi) with 7 stops, from Carlisle to Hexham. About 1 h 02 min of driving in total. Roman forts, a museum of soldiers’ letters and the wall riding its cliffs along the old Military Road.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 74 km (46 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 02 min |
| Suggested days | 2 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Carlisle → Hexham |
| Countries | United Kingdom |
| Updated | August 14, 2026 |

## Route description

Carlisle has a red sandstone castle and cathedral and a good museum on the Roman frontier. Head east on the A69 and minor roads to Birdoswald, a fort above the river Irthing with a long section of wall standing beside it.

Haltwhistle is a handy stop for supplies. Just beyond, join the B6318, the Military Road built in the 18th century partly on top of the wall. At Steel Rigg the wall climbs along a line of crags above Crag Lough; walk east along it towards Sycamore Gap for the classic views.

Vindolanda, in a valley just south of the road, is where the famous writing tablets were found, and excavations continue every summer. Housesteads, a few kilometres east, is the most complete fort on the wall, laid out on a ridge with wide views over the moors.

End the day in Hexham, a market town around an abbey founded in the 7th century. The Military Road is long, straight and hilly with few passing places for overtaking, so drive it patiently; in summer the AD122 bus links the main sites if you prefer to leave the car.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Carlisle** (United Kingdom)
2. **Birdoswald Roman Fort** (Gilsland, United Kingdom): A Roman fort above a bend of the river Irthing, next to one of the longest continuous stretches of Hadrian’s Wall.
3. **Haltwhistle** (United Kingdom)
4. **Steel Rigg** (Once Brewed, United Kingdom): The wall at its most dramatic, riding a line of cliffs above Crag Lough. From the car park a rough path follows it to Sycamore Gap, where the famous tree stood until 2023.
5. **Vindolanda** (Bardon Mill, United Kingdom): An excavated Roman fort and village where archaeologists still dig each summer. Its museum holds the wooden writing tablets, letters written by soldiers and their families.
6. **Housesteads Roman Fort** (Haydon Bridge, United Kingdom): The best preserved fort on the wall, spread across a windswept ridge. It is an uphill walk of about 10 minutes from the car park.
7. **Hexham** (United Kingdom)

## FAQs

**How long is Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham?**
2-day road trip of about 74 km (46 mi) with 7 stops, from Carlisle to Hexham. About 1 h 02 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham?**
We suggest 2 days: about 1 h 02 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham start and end?**
It starts in Carlisle and ends in Hexham.

**Which countries does Hadrian’s Wall: Carlisle to Hexham pass through?**
United Kingdom.