You hike it solo for solitude. And you hike it solo so that you don't have a friend or companion drop out and leave you feeling you must drop out, too, to be with them. Conversely, if you must drop out, the only hiker you are letting down is yourself.
@@mattwalkwild6784 Matt, in fact, I did just that four years ago. I scheduled 7 days to knock it out. I had friends who said they wanted to go along but I feared their fitness would cause them to fall out. As it was, I banged my knee on a metal poll in Carlisle before I got on the bus for Bowness-on-Solway and I had to limp the 13 miles back to Carlisle on my first day. NOT how one wants to start an 84-mile hike. I had all the necessities in my backpack because I had read up on what to take from a number of books. Still, I had chosen the wrong pair of boots and that cost me great pain and blisters through. I had booked a room for each night along the way. I did not want to hike 15 miles and learn that there were no vacancies when I arrived. It helped me to continue each day -- I knew that no matter how slow I went, if I kept at it, there WOULD be a place to rest that night, so I could not quit early (which would only add more miles to the next day's hike.). I was only disappointed by one thing. I brought my Hadrian's Wall hiker's map, with all the stamps on it, to the visitor center at Wall's End. I handed it over and the guy at the register said, "Oh, I don't need to see that". He is the one who verifies the stamps so you can get a certificate of completion. I said, "why not?" He replies, "Who am I to say if you went to milestones or not." I was gobsmacked. "Who are you to say? If there is anyone who IS to say, it is you, the man who takes the map with the stamps." Geez Loueeze. You get the stamps or you are stealing honor from hiking the entire route. That's my view, anyway. Apparently, the guy at the register just cared about taking 5 pounds for the certificate, as if it was a common souvenir.
btw, I also virtually walked Hadrian's Wall this year with myvirtualmission.com Neat way to "see" the sites. You and I walked it for real and we took the wise couorse -- west to east. When it rains, the winds are most often west to east, so the rain was at our back, not in our face. Many people don't realize that. For the virtual challenge, they started us at Wall's End and had us trek west. Fortunately, there was no rain on a virtual mission.
@@seminolewarsauthority4403 Wow that sounds like a bit of an adventure. A lot of ups and downs! Rough way to start but at least you managed to get through and finish it (even with the certificate trouble at the end). Congrats anyhow!
It's a really great hike. The combo of nature and historical sites is really unusual for a long hike like this! Also telling people you have walked across England is pretty awesome too haha. Yeah they are, I'm a big fan. Used to get blisters between my toes but the Injinji socks sorted them right out. I wear trail running shoes mostly and they work really well together! Got a full kit list here if you're interested: mattwalkwild.com/multi-day-hike-kit-list/
Really enjoyed this video - we had a trip planned back in May to fly over from the US and do this hike but then 2020 happened, still hope to see this in person one day.
Thanks Ryan, I'm sorry to hear your plans got cancelled. At least the Wall isn't going anywhere and when this does pass hopefully you can book to visit again!
That's a good point! It does have an eerie sort of look when the area is empty and soaked with rain. Makes it more dramatic in a way! Glad you enjoyed the video :)
Thanks mate, appreciate the kind words. It's a great adventure - maybe you can do it some day! There are a lot of amazing hikes in Italy I would love to do one day too 👍🏼
Hi Frank, I'm happy to hear that. Maybe walk with someone else or sample some shorter sections of the trail first to get used to the terrain? Good luck, I hope all goes well!
Cheers John! Haha that's a good point, I must have heard it called that a few times when I was up there! Good luck with the walk, it's a brilliant journey 👍🏼
Nice one Matt really enjoyed your video. Lovely footage, editing and background music, I should have a go at that, music that is. But ya lovely video well done and well done on completing the walk solo, nice. ATB big thumbs up from me. Dave. AKA wackyswanderings.
Thanks very much Dave, appreciate all your kind feedback! I'm going for a relaxing sort of vibe where you can just watch the journey unfold - hopefully that came through :). I have just subscribed to your channel and look forward to seeing more of your walks and gear reviews 👍🏼
Great video Matt. Hoping to get out a do this with a small group next summer. Will check out the blog for your view on best way to break down the route! Hope you have lots of cool adventures planned for '22! Best, Will
Looking at the date, I walked this a couple of weeks before you (first week in Aug 21) on an organised walking holiday. Every frame brings back lovely memories. Looks like we had slightly better weather than you but that's the luck of the draw. This year is the C2C in Sept (still with an organised trip = guide, hotels, luggage transfers etc).
Yes I think I was quite unfortunate walking head-on into the storm! As you say, that's what it's all about. Can't plan the weather and it's all part of the adventure. Enjoy your C2C hike, should be fantastic!
Dude great video been looking at doing this hike for awhile just haven't been sure about the wild camping aspect. But watching this is definitely motivation to start planning. Thanks very much!
Cheers man, glad you enjoyed it! I'd say there's not loads of places to wild camp and generally it's easier to stay in campsites around Hadrian's Wall. I talk more about that in my travel guide if you want some extra help with the planning mattwalkwild.com/how-to-walk-hadrians-wall-path/ 👍🏼 Just watched your hitchiking across England video. Awesome thing to do. Looked like a really cool adventure!
Hi Paul, all that info is in my travel guide mattwalkwild.com/how-to-walk-hadrians-wall-path/. (Links are also in the description of this video). It depends which side you're starting from. Check out YourParkingSpace or JustPark for areas to book in your car. Good luck with the hike!
Yep it's the 2-man. Small interior space but overall a great tent for the price. I've used it on so many trips and it's been really reliable. I think it's a great compromise for price, sturdiness and weight!
You're correct, the official path is 84 miles. But when you factor in the walks to some of the campsites, forts, and exploring around the wall it ended up being longer. I tracked the distance on my phone and 95 miles was what I walked - I was surprised too!
His videos are a lot better than mine haha. Think he's perfected the silent film - thought I'd give it a go too! Wasn't trying to copy him but it doesn't help that I'm wearing a white hoody he wears a lot too 😆
Matt, you’ve reminded me of how much I enjoyed our walk along the wall. Noticed some changes in the path since we were last there. Thanks for the video.
Great video, some awesome looking scenery and history. What time of year would you recommend doing this? I live in Australia now but am Itching to get back to do some hikes
Thanks Hayden. This part of the UK gets very cold, rainy and snowy in winter. You probably want to avoid October - February. It will be busy in summer but much better weather. For the best weather but quieter trails, September, April, and May would be great. Good luck with the hike!
Thanks very much. Good to hear, much better walking it that way than from east to west as I've heard lots of people suggest! Did you have a favourite section?
In this covid period, I'm planning this hike (from Belgium). Thank you so much for taking me there, now that we cannot go... Any idea's on wild camping ? Seems to be ok... I'm really looking forward in hiking this one...
Thanks for watching! I'm glad it gave you a bit of escapism from this Covid time! Wild camping is not particularly easy on this hike. You don't want to be camping on/near the ruins of the wall and it's pretty exposed on the ridge anyway. I wild camped one night but stayed in campsites for the rest. I talk about wild camping/camping on Hadrian's Wall in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iDJVcBFGezw.html . Cheers!
I actually didn't use any maps. The Wall Path is very well signposted and monitored by the National Trails. You just need to follow the acorn symbols which are posted everywhere to find your way around. I did use the AllTrails app to track my progress also. It's a really incredible walk, I wrote a guide with loads of info in it that you might find useful: mattwalkwild.com/how-to-walk-hadrians-wall-path/ Happy hiking 👍🏼
I walked in trail running shoes and it was a slight issue because the weather was appalling. Heavy rain and they're not waterproof. I usually always take trail running shoes though as they're generally more lightweight and comfortable. If you're concerned about spraining your ankle then boots might be better for you!
@@mattwalkwild6784 Thanks for the info , I’ve just ordered the North Face Vectiv Exploris mid . I’m doing the HWW at the end of May wilding camping for the first time , hoping to complete in 5 days 👍🏻
@@kieroncomley1502 They look quality, almost half way between trail running shoes and boots! Great time to do it, hope you enjoy. I wild camped some of the trail too, it's tricky in places but I'm sure you'll manage. 5 days would be rapid pace! Have an awesome trip 👍🏼
@@mattwalkwild6784 sorry yea, wainwright’s-coast to coast is great because of the way it changes through the national parks. I would recommend starting at St Bees although lots of people would say start at robin hoods bay to save the best(Lake District) until last!
Hi Nico, that's Carlisle Castle! It's right in the middle of Carlisle city near the start of the walk. I've got more info about it here if you're interested: mattwalkwild.com/how-to-walk-hadrians-wall-path/ Cheers!
