…and back again – East to West on Hadrian’s Wall Path, England – Day 1

Date: Saturday, 25 July 2026
Day: 1
From: Segedunum/Wallsend     To: Newcastle
Start Walking: 828am                 End Walking: 1023am       Walking Time: 1h51m
Distance (Planned): 8.3km     Distance (Garmin): 9km
Ascent: 81m                                 Descent: 89m
Progress: 9/138km
Weather: Cloudy and warm to start, and then a very cool wind. A change on the way?
Stayed At: Four Points Sheraton Flex

General Comments:
• Yes, I’m off again! I figured I had come all this way to the UK and had walked from one side of the country to the other, that I may as well turn around and walk back again!😊🙃
• This time I am walking East to West on Hadrian’s Wall Path. You will be pleased to know it is much shorter and, I understand, the terrain is not quite as demanding as the Coast to Coast Path.
• The BIG question is, will I be able to score the same magical weather? 😄 That really would be a miracle.

• I started this trail with an easier day by walking eastwards out to Segedunum/Wallsend, following the River Tyne most of the way.
• It was a pretty walk past the many bridges and interesting buildings. This city is a place of contrasts – really gritty and industrial in one area and beautifully historic in others.

• I hazard a guess that this is not the prettiest stage of the Hadrian’s Wall Path and it got progressively seedier with frequent graffiti and endless litter, the further I went. I doubt the Romans would be pleased.
• Segedunum at Wallsend was an original Roman fort at the most eastern point of the Wall. It has now been made into a museum.

• From the steady stream of people walking along with backpacks, it’s obviously a popular starting or finishing point. Maybe I will see some of them on the way…
• I am looking forward to getting onto the trail proper tomorrow.

Top Tips:
• Food and Drink: There are quite a few cafés and shops along the river’s edge (at the Newcastle end) if you feel the need to take a break.
• Signage: I was pleased to see my first Hadrian’s Way sign and there were quite a few others to keep me on track. Unfortunately, most were covered in stickers and/or graffiti, which is both annoying and completely pointless.
• Transport: If you don’t feel like walking out AND back, the Metro station is only about 100m away from Segedunum. You do need to change trains at Monument to get back into the city.

Have a good weekend, everyone.