Day 20: Hadrian’s Wall Begins… with Trash and Graffiti | Hiking with Kids

Описание: Day 20: From Trash to Trailheads — Hadrian’s Wall Begins

It’s Day 1 on the Hadrian’s Wall Path and Day 20 of our UK adventure, and we’ve decided to hike east to west, starting in Wallsend. Why?

Well:

The prevailing winds go westward (tailwind, baby!)

It builds up to more scenic sections

It lets us finish in the dramatic, wild hills near Carlisle

And... we’re contrarians at heart

We started the morning late, obviously, and made the nearly one-mile approach to the start of the trail through an unimpressive, industrial section of town. There was no grand monument, no epic statue of Hadrian giving us thumbs up, just a small sign and some confused vibes.

The first couple miles of the trail were rough: graffiti-covered walls, trash-strewn sidewalks, and a heavily polluted river with actual signs warning us not to walk too close. Inspirational? Not exactly.

But then... we reached Newcastle upon Tyne.

The city was alive with music, street stalls, and riverside buzz. Suddenly the trail felt vibrant, full of stories, energy, and people. It was an unexpected delight and kept spirits high.

Eventually, we left the city behind and headed into farm country, where the trail opened up into peaceful fields and rolling hills. Everyone was tired, but somehow still in good spirits, and that’s saying something.

We finally reached Heddon-on-the-Wall and checked into Houghton North Farm Hostel, a cozy and cheerful spot with friendly staff, soft beds, and plenty of space for muddy boots and tired hikers. Buttercup declared it “a good place to not move anymore.”

This is Day 20 of our UK hiking adventure. Hadrian’s Wall has officially begun, and even if the start was strange, we’re in it now.

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