Castles, Hadrian's Wall & the Lake District

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6 Days from

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USD 3,649

Incl. taxes Excl. flights

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

3 out of 7 - Moderate

Group Size :

6 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

TDR

Discover forts, fells and film sets in the storied wilds of northern England

For an adventurous getaway combining history and hiking, few destinations can compete with the windswept wilds of northern England. Here we meet long-gone monarchs and marauding invaders at Alnwick and Bamburgh castles, both seen in TV shows and films, including Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and The Last Kingdom. We also cross to the tidal island of Lindisfarne, the birthplace of Christianity in England, and walk a section of Hadrian’s Wall, which once marked the northwest boundary of the Roman empire. We end the trip in the Lake District where we hike two peaks – known locally as fells – for astonishing views over perhaps the most beautiful rural landscape in the UK.

Did you know you can travel by train to this trip? Find out more here

Highlights

Explore the bewitching Alnwick Castle, which stood in as Hogwarts for the first two Harry Potter movies
Tour Bamburgh Castle, a striking fort on the Northumberland coast
Venture to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne to admire historic priory ruins
Hike a section of Hadrian’s Wall, the UNESCO-listed northwest boundary of the Roman empire
Hike Cat Bells for unforgettable views over the Lake District
Summit Helvellyn, a walk considered among the most beautiful in the UK

Key Information

Six hotel nights
Six days of guided walking
Group normally 6 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Moderate walks, leisurely pace; good level of fitness recommended
Option to travel by train to your adventure

Countries visited: United Kingdom

What's Included

All breakfasts, two dinners
Entry into Lindisfarne Priory, Bamburgh Castle, Alnwick Castle and Gardens, Vindolanda
Leader throughout and mountain guide on last day
Minibus throughout

What's Not Included

Flights and rail journeys
Visas
Insurance
Single supplement (we need a rate for this if available)

6 Days of Walking & Trekking

Terrain:

Paths are typically well maintained though in some places rough underfoot

Day 2

14 km / 8.7 miles

Day 3

14 km / 8.7 miles

Day 4

9 km / 5.6 miles

Day 5

11 km / 6.8 miles

Day 6

11 km / 6.8 miles

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
Read more about our other initiatives

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites.
We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Walking trips like this have very little detrimental impact on the environment and the locals, as it is a quiet, low-impact activity requiring comparatively few resources to support.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Itinerary

Our adventure begins in Newcastle, once a titan of industry, now transformed into a business hub and cultural powerhouse. We gather at the hotel reception at 6pm to meet each other before a If you arrive with time to spare, you could walk to the Tyne Bridge, a Grade II*-listed arch spanning the river after which it was named. Opened in October 1928 by King George V, it is now the most famous of seven bridges crossing the Tyne and an icon of the city.

Accommodation: Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle

Meals Included: Dinner

We leave the city and head to Alnwick, an ancient market town guarded by an imposing Norman castle. Our exploration starts with a walk around town, before we head to Alnwick Castle, the second largest inhabited castle in the UK behind Windsor Castle.

Built in the 11^th century, the fort was originally a defensive stronghold – seen in the extra-thick stone walls – but has more recently become a picturesque setting for TV and film, featuring in Downton Abbey and as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter movies. Our visit includes a wander round the lavish state rooms and the opportunity to try archery, take broomstick flying lessons as Harry Potter once did here, and visit the artisans courtyard to experience 14^th-century life.

This afternoon, we head to the coastal village of Alnmouth, where rows of pastel-coloured fishermen's cottages and stone houses line the River Aln. Here we explore the traditional high street, dipping into gift shops, cafes and pubs. The leader can recommend somewhere for dinner, but what better way to cap a day of tradition than with fish and chips on the beach, a classic British seaside experience?

Ascent: 302ft (92m)

Accommodation: The Oaks Hotel, Alnwick

Meals Included: Breakfast

We head to Lindisfarne (also known as Holy Island) after breakfast, which is considered the birthplace of Christianity in England. This tidal island is cut off from the mainland by the sea twice a day; don’t worry, we check the tides before making the journey across.

Here we visit the ruins of a 12^th-century priory, which was founded by Norman monks and played a vital role in introducing Christianity to Anglo-Saxon England. We also walk past a castle that was converted into a private holiday home by Sir Edwin Lutyens, an architect who had a major role in the formation of New Delhi, India.

We then take a tour of Bamburgh Castle, which you may recognise from the Netflix series The Last Kingdom. Built on a rocky plateau right next to the Northumberland coastline, this imposing fort has played guardian to the area for more than 1,400 years, hosting several kings and witnessing many bloody battles.

Ascent: 200ft (61m)

Accommodation: The Oaks Hotel, Alnwick

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we head across the country to the Roman ruins of Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco World Heritage site stretching 73mi (117km) from coast to coast. This 1,900-year-old relic once marked the northwest border of the Roman empire, cutting through the still-wild landscape.

During our walk, we visit Vindolanda, a complete Roman garrison, which has been excavated for years and is still being uncovered. We also visit Sycamore Gap, immortalised in Kevin Costner's Prince of Thieves (1991 and one of the most photographed trees in the country. After, we take a bus transfer to the Lake District, a beloved national park of spectacular rural landscapes and quintessential old English towns.

Ascent: 400ft (122m)

Accommodation: The Royal Oak, Keswick

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we embark on a classic Lake District experience: fell walking. Our fell (the name derives from an old Norse word meaning mountain or moor-covered hill) is Cat Bells, one of the most beautiful in the region and not a strenuous hike at just 1,480ft (451m) tall. At the top, we have wonderful panoramas taking in the countryside and the expansive lake known as Derwent Water.

This afternoon, we take the ferry back to Keswick. Then we have free time to relax or explore this historic market town.

Ascent: 600ft (183m)

Accommodation: The Royal Oak, Keswick

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we tackle our second peak, Helvellyn, the third highest fell in the Lake District at 3,118ft (950m) tall. It’s been called the greatest walk in England with stretching views over the rural landscape; we go up and down via the easiest route available with no steep inclines. At the top, we can marvel at the whole Lake District; at the bottom, we stop for a pint in the King’s Head, a 17^th-century coaching inn turned traditional pub with sensational views over the landscape.

Ascent: 2,500ft (762m)

Accommodation: The Royal Oak, Keswick

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we begin our return journey home. To make things easy, there’s a transfer to Penrith where there are hourly trains to London and Scotland.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

United Kingdom

Travellers from the US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Vaccination

United Kingdom

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus and rabies (bat lyssavirus). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and two dinners are included.

Weather

Rain can come at any time of year; however, the temperatures typically rise from around 12C (54F) in April to the high 20Cs (around 80F-85F) or above in September. Like most of the UK in recent years there have been some hotter days in the middle of summer.

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate) with five days of walking on rolling terrain. Each day features visits to places of interest. You will not need to carry all your luggage with you.

A good level of fitness is required; however, regular walkers will not find this itinerary challenging.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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