Date: Saturday, 1 August 2026
Day: 8
From: Easton To: Bowness-on-Solway
Start Walking: 636am End Walking: 830am Walking Time: 1h48m
Distance (Planned): 7.1km Distance (Garmin): 8.6km
Ascent: 21m Descent: 16m
Progress: 142.7/138km
Weather: Cool with patchy cloud.
Stayed At: Howard Lodge, Carlisle
General Comments:
• I am done! I was so excited to knock over these last few kilometres that I hardly slept last night. Seeing I was awake far too early, it made sense to get up and get going.
• There isn’t anything too startling to report about the trail as it was the usual farm back roads and edge of road walking.
• All that improved dramatically once I hit the coast path and was dazzled by the early morning light over the Solway Firth.
• Even Scotland, across the water, was bathed in beautiful light. Unlike yesterday when it was raining over there and yet we were bone dry.
• It felt good to walk into Bowness-on-Solway knowing I had reached the end of the line, if not the end of the Wall. Apparently there was a Roman fort here too, but any sign of it is long gone.
• It has been a fascinating walk and I have loved all the history as well as the gorgeous views. A walk that I highly recommend and will remember for a long time.
Thanks to everyone for your interest and support over the past month. I’ve really appreciated all your likes, comments and generally following yet another of my nutty adventures.
Thanks to my English friends for organising such amazing weather and allowing me to wander around your fair isle. I feel I have a much better understanding of your country although I still haven’t got my tastebuds around your warm beer!🤣
Time for me to head back Down Under to the dark and cold of our Winter. That will be a bit of a shock.
Take care, everyone. And happy walking to you.
Life...one big adventure 
What an excellent blog, thank you for making the time effort to share it with us all, safe and pleasant onwards travels 👌👋
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Thanks so much for your kind words, Brian. It’s been a blast!🎉
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I didn’t read this comment about it being a blast until I finished typing my contribution. Funny 🙂
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🤣 Was it the retro terminology that tickled your funny bone?
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I have a fondness for retro 😁
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Groovy baby!🤩🤩😎
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🤣 a wanna be from way back.
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😅🙃😎
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Such a shame you couldn’t stay longer and explore more of the UK whilst the days are long and the sun is shining. It has been lovely to accompany you on both you walks / treks / hikes I hope you didn’t mind the extra weight on your shoulder. Where to next I wonder… is there anywhere else in the world with paths left for you to walk? Of course you could do the South West Coast Path (630 miles of stunning scenery) and pop in to see me. I will happily oblige with a cream tea and a bed.
Safe journey homeward bound.
Jude xx
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Thanks, Jude. Yes, it would be lovely to stay seeing you are having such a fabulous Summer, but I had better go home and be responsible for a change!😅 And Yes, hopefully our paths will cross one day and I will have an opportunity to take you up on your kind offer. The South West Coast Path is definitely on my radar, but first I have a few Aussie trails to complete. Thanks for being part of my UK strolls. I appreciate your support and input. You are a plant whizz!🌻🌷🌿🌷
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What a perfect way to finish, Mel! That final coastal light over the Solway Firth is the kind of memory that stays forever, clear, golden, earned through your own two feet. I’ve loved following this journey with you, and what strikes me most is not just the magnificent walking and the history, but the friendships that formed along the way (Jude’s offer of cream tea is the beautiful human touch this adventure needed). You went to walk Hadrian’s Wall and you found community. Safe travels back Down Under, and thank you for letting us walk this with you. 🥾✨
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And all the lovely comments I have received on my posts have made it extra special too. I will head home with a full and happy heart. Thank you.💕
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Oh my, you almost finished the day’s hike before breakfast! But you had such lovely early morning colours. That’s it – a month? I can’t believe you’re done (I was barely warming up for your hike here on my couch 😁). Well done, another one to tick off on your crazy hiking list! And don’t worry … it looks like our winter down here in the Southern Hemisphere is starting to lose its cold and dark grip! Safe travels back home.
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Thanks, Corna. Even with Winter waiting for me, I’m looking forward to getting home. There’s no place like it.🥰 And thanks for joining me on this stroll. You are good walking company.💕
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It does seem to’ve gone fast, Mel. I think you promised us some Edinburgh too? (no satisfying some people, is there?) I enjoyed seeing old haunts and some bits I hadn’t seen. Thanks very much for trailing us along with you. Have a wonderful rest of the year xx
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Thanks, Jo. Yes, I’ll share some Edinburgh when I get home. A wonderful city, but a tad busy for my liking. I’m glad you enjoyed a few short trips down memory lane. I’m happy to walk with you anytime. 🥰 xx
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Safe journey, hon xx
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Ta, it’s a big one! First World problems…😄
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Congratulations on another crossing and safe travels home! I’ve enjoyed following and seeing places I love through your eyes.
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Thanks for the company, Anabel. I look forward to catching up on your travels too when I get home.
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It’s been a blast, Mel and well done you. Safe travels x
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Thanks, Suz. Xx
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Congratulations Mel. What a time you have had and I have enjoyed following you as usual. Look forward to chatting on your return. Kxx
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Thanks Kerry. Me too. We have a lot to catch up on. Talk soon. Xx
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Having been tied up with caring for grandchildren over the past week, my time hasn’t been my own!😂. I shall have to go back and read through your posts about this journey. Thank you for all of your efforts in sharing your daily adventures. I have thoroughly enjoyed them💕
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Thanks, Lynn. You haven’t missed much. I got up. I walked. I took way too many photos. I slept. I got up and did it all again the next day!🤣🤣 Thanks for joining me on this trail.🚶♀️🚶♀️
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Yay!! Congratulations! Now for a new pair of hiking shoes after all those kilometres. 😊 Maggie
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I think I have another short walk left in these boots, but what I really need is a new pair of trail shoes. They would have been way better than boots on this trail. Time to go shopping when I get home. 😄
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Thank you for sharing your adventures and the pictures you took.
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My pleasure. Hopefully I captured even a small slice of the beauty of this trail. Have a good day.
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Congratulations Mel.
A couple for my bucket list once again.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip.
Safe travels home.
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Thanks, Kay. I am glad to have added to your Bucket List…just like you do to mine!😅 Happy trails to you and Foz. X
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Congrats on another walk well done. It has been interesting joinng you on your epic hikes!
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Thanks so much for joining me on my wanders. You have a lovely country to stroll about in.🤩
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Well done Mel! It’s been a ride 🙂 I will miss all the updates and your amazing photos.
Safe travels home. See you soon xx
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Thanks, Di. I look forward to catching up on all your news soon. And now for the long trip home…xx✈✈
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I don’t envy you that part of the trip! Hope the flights etc. go according to plan …….
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It’s all in the lap of the Gods and it’s definitely a First World problem. 😊
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Congratulations on the double crossing!
Those Snack Shacks are reason enough to add this to the (growing) ToDo list of walks. Loved all the photos of the wall in different light and angles.
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You might find this one to be a little tame after all your mountains, but the history is fascinating.
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Amazing Mel, what a double crossing! Safe trip back to Australia, and I’m so glad you had a wonderful time in the UK 🙂
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Thanks, Han. It was a very long trip and I think my brain is still somewhere over Turkmenistan, but it’ll catch up eventually! 🙂 My double crossing was doubly amazing!
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Glad you enjoyed your walking Mel, the weather couldn’t have been any better for you, and if you want your beer cold its Italian lager or perhaps more familiar Fosters! Safe journey home 😍
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Ugh! Fosters!!?? Not even if it was the last beer on Earth!! 🙂 Have a good day, Jim!
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😂
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I’m a bit behind in my reading so you’re probably safely back in Australia now. Thanks for taking us along another Epic Mel Walk.
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Thanks, Peg. Yes, it was pretty special. Home again and trying to make my jetlagged brain get with the programme! Hopefully my brain catches up with my body soon! 🙂
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Have enjoyed travelling along with you on yet another fascinating walk Mel. Loved the wall photos in your previous posts as the wall blended into the countryside. No doubt you’re back home now suffering winter like us. Cheers, Mark
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Yes, home again and it all feels like so long ago. I don’t mind the cold so much, it’s the dark mornings that get me. Definitely NOT like the UK where it is light until 930pm and again at 430am! It was so easy to get up early when it was light. 🙂 Have a good week ahead, Mark, Mel
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I’m very behind after my recent travels, so will probably just need to skim some of your previous posts to catch up. But congrats on finishing another long walk!
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No problemo, Diana. The travels in front of you are way more important than the travels of others. Have a great week!
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Amazing scenery here and thanks for sharing! I love UK and the amazing places to see there – every day a bew experience!
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