2010 JULY 22 THURSDAY

 DAY 00  A direct overnight flight from Toronto to London.

2010 JULY 23
FRIDAY

 DAY 01  Arrive in London and take the London Express from Heathrow Airport to Central London. We stay at the Sidney Hotel which includes breakfast daily. While in London, we have prepared a hosted itinerary that offers a balance between planned activities and leisure time.

2010 JULY 24 SATURDAY

 DAY 02  We continue in London with the prepared and hosted itinerary that offers a balance between planned activities and leisure time. Overnight at the Sidney Hotel which includes breakfast.

2010 JULY 25
SUNDAY

 DAY 03  We continue in London with the prepared and hosted itinerary that offers a balance between planned activities and leisure time. Overnight at the Sidney Hotel which includes breakfast. Overnight at the Sidney Hotel which includes breakfast.

 DAY 04  We are north bound by train this morning to Newcastle on Tyne (east end of Hadrian's Wall). Upon arrival, we will be met by Dave Southall, our local guide, who will transfer us to Hadrian Lodge Hotel, Walls End, Newcastle. Overnight at Hadrian Lodge Hotel, Hadrian Road, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, NE28 6HH Tel: 0191 262 7733. Dave will be our guide until we depart from the west end of Hadrian’s Wall on August 3rd. [Google Maps: approximate latitude/longitude of Hadrian Lodge Hotel 54.990820 -1.519563 - map<> MultiMap: topo map | aerial map]

 DAY 05  Trip to Lindisfarne Castle (Holy Island) and Abbey plus Bamburgh Castle [official website | Wikipedia]. The Abbey was founded by an Irish monk St. Aidan in the 6th Century. The 7th Century Abbot St. Cuthbert founded the Church of England here. Bamburgh Castle is mentioned in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles in 547 AD and was a fort of the ancient Britons before then. Overnight at Hadrian Lodge Hotel.

 DAY 06  Today involves a visit to Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum [website | Wikipedia] that mark the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. Segedunum is the most thoroughly excavated fort along Hadrian's Wall. Following the fort visit is an urban walk along the banks of the River Tyne. Distance: 12-14 km. Overnight at Hadrian Lodge Hotel.

NOTE: Located along Hadrian's Wall are small lookout positions known as Milecastles approximately every 1500 m. Between the eastern end of the wall and Milecastle 34 the wall follows a trunk (vehicle traffic) road. Similarly beyond Milecastle 60 near Carlisle until the western end of the wall the walk is similarly on tarmac. Neither of these sections will be hiked. While we shall be hiking the section between Milecastles 34 and 60 over 3 days these will be interrupted by walking elsewhere as outlined. The general landscape of the off road section of the wall walk is undulating hills over open moorland and woodland trails. Those not wishing to complete the entire distance each day can be picked up by the minibus at selected points.

 DAY 07  Milecastles 34 to 42 (~ 13 km) plus diversion to Vindolanda Roman Fort. The hike also includes Vercovicium Roman Fort (also known as or Housesteads Roman Fort) [ website | Wikipedia]. While you are walking your luggage will be transported to Hadrian Lodge Hotel, Haydon Bridge. Overnight at Hadrian Lodge Hotel, Hindshield Moss, North Road, above Haydon Bridge, Northumberland NE47 6NF. Telephone: 01434 68486 [Google Maps: approximate latitude/longitude of the lodge 55.001492 -2.264670 - map <> MultiMap: topo map | aerial map]

 DAY 08  Visit to Kielder Castle [castle location map] and ascent of Deadwater Fell [map]. The walk [deadwater walking trail] is a distance of 8 km and has an ascent of 400 metres. There are a variety of self-guided, way-marked trails in Kielder Castle Forest Park for those not wishing to make the ascent. [ Fell: An upland stretch of open country; a moor; a barren or stony hill.] Overnight at Hadrian Lodge Hotel, Haydon Bridge.

 DAY 09  Milecastles 42 to 51 (~ 14.5 km). Today's hike includes Aesica Roman Fort [Map 1 | Map 2] (with the modern name of Great Chesters). Overnight at Hadrian Lodge Hotel, Haydon Bridge.

 DAY 10  The John Martin Heritage Trail, a trail commemorating a 19th Century Northumbrian painter. This is a 17-km circular walk from the Haydon Lodge Hotel (see map links below). While you are walking your luggage will be transferred to The Blacksmiths Arms, Talkin, Brampton, Cumbria, CA8 1LE (near Carlisle), Telephone: 016977 3452. [Google Maps: approximate latitude/longitude of Blacksmith Arms 54.909192 -2.705198 - map <> MultiMap: topo map | aerial map]

• Links pertaining to the John Martin Heritage Trail: Visit Haydon Bridge | Haydon Bridge Walks page, includes PDF maps | Trail Map north section (PDF) | Trail Map south section (PDF)
• Websites with information about John Martin: one | two

 DAY 11  Visit to the City of Carlisle [official website | Wikipedia website]. As well as Roman antiquities Carlisle boasts one of the oldest Norman castles in Britain. The building was started in the 1120’s by Henry I son of William the Conqueror. Overnight at The Blacksmiths Arms.

 DAY 12  Between Milecastles 51 and 53 the wall again follows a trunk road so today the walk will be from Milecastles 53 to 60 (~ 11.5 km). Overnight at The Blacksmiths Arms.

2010 AUGUST 04 WEDNESDAY

Greg Vincent has led six trips to England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland handled by Dave Southall. Greg has led hikes for the past thirty years in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean  and Europe. Although the walking part of the outings is important to Greg, he is very much interested in the human history, geology and flora of the areas he walks. When the day is done and the day's walk is discussed the whole experience of the walk is what keeps him wanting more. Greg's training as an Air Force navigator and Army artillery officer helps getting the group to the destination!

Dave Southall has been mountaineering in Great Britain and Ireland for more than 30 years and is the only combined Blue Badge Guide and qualified Mountain Leader (Northern Ireland Mountain Leader Training Board) in the country.  A former bank manager he was awarded a first class honours degree in Environmental Science (2006) and Master of Research degree by the University of Ulster. He is currently studying for a D. Phil. in post glacial landscape evolution. He also holds a Certificate in Archaeology from the Institute of Lifelong Learning at Queens University, Belfast. He is hopeless at identifying birds and flowers.

The tour cost, what is covered, what is not covered and other information is available for download here > DOWNLOAD Goliger's Hadrian's Wall Walk PDF (2 pages, 0.6 MB). For further information and to book a spot for this tour contact Judy Anger at Goliger's Travel Plus - contact details appear below.

Contact: Judy Anger
Goliger's TravelPlus, Waterloo
234 King Street South, Waterloo, ON
N2J 1R3

Telephone: 519-741-8166 ext 246
Toll free: 1-800-465-4437
Website: www.go.travelplus.ca