Friday 15th April 2011 UK Outdo

Book this event - Dates and cost - Itinerary - Questions and Answers - Equipment

Join us as we follow in the footsteps of Roman legionnaires over rolling
fields and rugged moorlands, covering the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall.

Don't forget that all photographs are copywrite.

The Wall stretches 84miles from, the appropriately named, Wallsend on the North East coast all the way to Bowness-on-Solway in the East.

Walking around 6 to 7 hours per day, with regular “tea and cake” stops, along the undulating, but relatively flat and easy footpath. The path runs parallel to (and in some sections along ) the Wall.

We will supply (if req.) pickup from Newcastle airport and then back again at the end of the walk (plus for anyone else who needs a lift back to Newcastle from Carlisle after the event) + Walking leader, minibus transfers, hotels, etc.
All walking equipment can be loaned, for free, if required.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Arrive in Newcastle and walk 5 miles	Walk 15 miles	Walk 17 miles	Walk 16 miles	Walk 16 miles	Walk 15 miles to Bowness	Depart for home after breakfast

You will need to arrive in Newcastle by late morning on Monday so that you are ready to start walking at 1pm. This is important as we will walking a few miles on the 1st day from Wallsend and back to Newcastle city center. By doing this we are able to start early the next day on to the more scenic sections of the trek.
At the end of each day's walk we will transported by coach back to the hotel and then (next morning) drop you'll be dropped back to the same point to start that day's walking.
We will be staying for the first 2 nights in the Newcastle area and the last 3 nights in the Carlisle area. This is due to there not being any large hotels along the route.
You may depart from the last nights hotel (Carlisle) at any time on Sunday morning. If you do not require accommodation on Saturday night after the event then please inform us.
Should you require transport back to Newcastle on Sunday morning, the coach will depart from Carlisle at 9.30a.m. arriving in Newcastle approx 11am.

Q's & A's	Not in any particular order
What equipment do you need?	You will need your normal walking gear: Boots (Can be loaned - FREE) Waterproofs (Can be loaned - FREE) Small Rucksack (Can be loaned - FREE) Flask Plus you may wish to bring a good quality pair of training shoes (or similar) as much of the route is along flat paths and tracks. This is the only walking event that we would recommend that you wear good quality trainers rather than boots as they are much more comfortable than most walking boots
Do you need a pair of walking poles?	Not really but they do make walking easier, so if you do have a pair, bring them along. If you suffer from weak knees poles are a great help NOTE. Poles (Can be loaned - FREE)
Why are we going East to West?	By walking in this direction we will start at what is basically a road junction in the city centre and finish at the beach in Bowness. We feel (and hope that you agree) that it is better the have a definite "end" to the event - and you can't get more definite than the North Atlantic blocking your path.
Do I have to be able to read a map to do this event?	No. As we have done this event many times we have very detailed "Route Plans" which we will hand out at the start of the event. This will give a turn-by-turn plan of the entire route.
What are the meal arrangements	The hotels are booked on a B&B basis. Each hotel has a restaurant that you may use if you want to or you may choose to go out to any of the local restaurants. There are cafes along each day's route to stop at and take a break and have a "cup-of-tea-and-a-buttie"
Will I receive a commemorative certificate to record my achievement?	Yes, there will be a bit-of-a-do on the last night with the certificate presentation.
What are the timings for each day?	Breakfast will be at 7am. The first minibus will depart for the start of the walk as soon as you have had your breakfast. The minibuses will be available at the end of each days walk to transport you straight back to a welcome hot bath at the hotel.
What are the hotel arrangements?	All rooms are twin bedded (unless you specify on the application that you wish to pay a single room supplement £45.00 per night). Rooms are en-suite.
Will the walking leader be fully qualified?	Yes. Although us supplying a fully qualified Mountain Leader may be slightly over the top (as we said there simply aren't any mountains) - oh well, better safe than sorry.
How will I know if I am walking at the right speed?	The walking leader will walk at the correct speed to complete each section of the walk so it's a good idea to walk with them. Will I be walking on my own? It's up to you. On any event that involves walking you will always find people who walk at the same pace as you do (this is an ideal opportunity to make new friends) so you may walk with them if you wish to. You may walk on your own or you are very welcome to accompany the walking leader.
Is the wall visible all the way along the route?	No. In some places the wall is still in very good condition, in others it is completely ruined. There is even a section of the route that actually goes along the top of the wall. Along the route we will be able to view some of the remaining “milecastles”, fortified gateways, Mithraea (temples to Mithras) and Housestead Fort (“Vercovicium”) which housed up to 800 legionnaires.

Oh Yes Contrary to popular belief – and many school textbooks (?), websites and tourist information leaflets – the Wall was not built to keep out either the Scots (an Irish tribe) or the Picts (originally a tribe from Scythia – modern day Scandinavia). Construction of the Wall started in 122AD and the Picts or Painted Peoples (from the same Latin source as the English word “picture”) were not mentioned in history until 297AD and the “Scoti” were first noted as having moved from Ireland into the Argyle area around 300AD. It was,according to Aelius Spartianus, built simply as a Northern border of the Roman occupied area of "Briton" and as a defence against the “Northern Barbarians”.