It's All Over

Let the train take the strain

Time to go home

After yesterday's long slog in the rain, we celebrated with a meal and a few pints at the Kings Arms in Bowness on Solway, signed the walkers log book, collected our "certificates of achievement", bought our "I Walked Hadrian's Wall" tee shirts and after some arguments about the bus timetable, got back to Carlisle and changed into dry clothes.
This morning we said goodbye to Colin as he went to get his bus to Sheffield, and we're now at the station for our train home.
Thanks for all the messages of encouragement and sponsorship - we're delighted to see that we've exceeded our £500 target, and we want our sponsors to know that we suffered to earn the money! (especially yesterday!)

Bowness on Solway: we've finished!

Solway Estuary

It's flat and wet. But there's a shelter for lunch, and only 6 miles to go now!

Last Day: Carlisle to Bowness on Solway

In contrast to yesterday's barn, today we've all got individual study bedrooms at The Old Brewery Residencies in Carlisle. Reminiscing about our student days. Had a good meal at an Italian restaurant. Now it's raining and the forecast is for rain and more rain!

Tea and cakes in the Sands Leisure Centre to celebrate our arrival in Carlisle - the first town of any size since we left Newcastle last Saturday.

Arriving in Carlisle

A rather damp morning, course of the wall hardly visible today, good pub lunch in Crosby on Eden, crossed the M6 then the River Eden in to Carlisle

Day 8: Walton to Carlisle

An interesting night with 9 of us crammed in the cosy bunk barn (actually a converted dog kennel). John is on the sofa in the tiny sitting room, which is equipped with a collection of wartime helmets and a handy 1942 instruction manual for American servicemen in Britain ("the British can't make a cup of coffee, but you don't know how to make a proper cup of tea", "Never point out to a Frenchman that they surrendered").
We were disappointed to find that the Centurion Inn at Walton has closed, but we were able to eat good home-cooked food in the grand dining room in the Farmhouse. And there's a swallow's nest in the washroom - the chicks are watching us!

Dinner at Sandysike

Our faithful old retainer serves our beers

Sandysike Bunkhouse near Walton

After a pleasant day's walk across the green fields of Cumbria, we've arrived at our luxury accommodation.

Turret 52A (Banks)

Lunch on the Wall

Day 7: Birdoswald to Walton

Birdoswald Roman Fort and Youth Hostel

And Trudi's home-made sticky toffee pudding is the best ever!

Time for Dinner at Birdoswald Fort

Arrived at Birdoswald, the only hostel with a Roman fort outside the dorm window. And Trudi's met us with a car load of steak pies!

Willowford

A fascinating day of wall, milecastles, turrets, and bridge remains, plus a visit to the Roman Army Museum with its 3D eagles-eye wall experience and real live Roman centurion. And 9 miles or so walk following the wall over the crags.

Walltown

Ali by one of the tallest sections of the Wall

Mike, Turret and Cow

Great Chesters (Aesica Roman Fort)

John points out the only genuine Roman altar still in situ on the Wall

More splendid views of the wall

Day 6: Once Brewed to Birdoswald

We're back on the wall, climbing to the highest point on the trail at Windshields Crags

Colin's light lunch

By popular demand, here's a picture of Colin having his lunchtime snack - 1 maltloaf per day

Reconstruction of part of Hadrian's Wall, Vindolanda

The barbarians are peering over the wall!

Day 5: Rest Day!

After a lie-in, we've said goodbye to Nigel, Maggie & James who are going home today, and we're strolling down to Vindolanda museum. And just heard that John M is joining us for the next few days, so we'll have a qualified historian to answer all our questions!

End of Day 4: In the Twice Brewed Inn by Once Brewed hostel

Cress says the views were stunning today and the beer selection in the pub is good - but not sure if she'll be able to walk as far as the hostel (next door).
Ali says she's absolutely stuffed. Colin's been offering massages to anyone with aching muscles, but
Mike's banned from the male dorm because he hasn't joined in the bonding.
Jake's fallen asleep in the pub (again) and Doug's taking the pub quiz too seriously. We've discovered that Sarah is an expert on teletubbies (useful for the quiz).
And we've heard that some readers of this blog have formed the impression that our trip is all pubs and teashops - we'd like to point out there's some walking in between! We're half way now!

Sycamore Gap

Some excellent Wall Walking today

Housesteads Roman Fort

Most of the group have gone on to the pub, while we are admiring the latrines at Housesteads.

Approaching Milecastle 33

11 o'clock snack stop by the Roman ditch.

Day 4

After a good night's sleep and a splendid breakfast at Greencarts Farm, we're all set for day 4: 10 miles to Once Brewed.

End of a long day

Some spectacular sections of vallum, a quick pub lunch, a late tea stop and a brief tour of Chesters fort and museum. Very windy but mostly dry and great views. Limped up to the bunkhouse just before dark and ordered a takeaway for 11. It's half past nine and everyone's ready for bed.

Chesters Roman Fort

Some Ancient Romans in the Bath House

Whittle Dene reservoirs

Started walking at 8.30am - must be a record for us! 6 miles covered now. Enjoying our morning coffee and cakes at Vallum Farm tea room. Colin and James have caught us up after starting first and going the wrong way! But they were able to collect Doug's lost possessions on the way.

Ready for Day 3

17 miles today!

Arrived at Heddon on the Wall

Much nicer weather this afternoon, riverside footpath, 2 teashops and a pub, visit to George Stephenson's birthplace, and seen our first proper bit of wall!

Crossing footbridge over the A1, and it's stopped raining!

Sheltering under the railway by the castle keep

Ready for Day 2

At Newcastle YHA. Still raining.

News report from Trudi

Essex army invades- locals fear wall breach. Newsletter reveals military style campaign. Troops reported to be well equipped . Stop press.

Walking by the Tyne

After our visit to Segedunum museum at Wallsend, we've completed the first 5 miles of the walk. A bit drizzly but interesting walk along the riverside path in to Newcastle. After dinner in a pub we rushed out to see the blinking eye blink (but I had to go without my pudding!!). Good views of the flood-lit Tyne bridges.

Starting the walk at Wallsend

Arrived Newcastle on time - it's raining but we're all smiling!

We're on the train!

After some rail chaos this morning, 11 of us have successfully met up on the train to Newcastle! Just Colin to meet when we get there, and the team will be ready to start.

Our Planned Itinerary

Day 1: Friday 26th August: Wallsend to Newcastle (5 miles)
Day 2: Saturday 27th August: Newcastle to Heddon on the Wall (10 miles)
Day 3: Sunday 28th August: Heddon on the Wall to Greencarts (17 miles)
Day 4: Monday 29th August: Greencarts to Once Brewed (10 miles)
Day 5: Tuesday 30th August: Rest day at Once Brewed
Day 6: Wednesday 31st August: Once Brewed to Birdoswald (9 miles)
Day 7: Thursday 1st September: Birdoswald to Walton (8 miles)
Day 8: Friday 2nd September: Walton to Carlisle (12 miles)
Day 9: Saturday 3rd September: Carlisle to Bowness-on-Solway (15 miles)

We're raising money for the MS Society, so if you haven't sponsored us yet, see our Just Giving page for details.

Starting on 26th August, a group of us will be walking the 84-mile Hadrian's Wall National Trail from Wallsend (Newcastle) in the East to Bowness-on-Solway in the West. We'll be posting reports of our progress here, so please check back here when we're under way.