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Northumberland: Hadrian's Wall, Castles & Coast – Route Guide

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Lindisfarne Castle Holy Island — Northumberland: Wall to the Coast
Photo: Michael D Beckwith · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Newcastle’s Quayside leads west to Hexham and a Hadrian’s Wall landscape day, then north-east through Alnwick and Bamburgh to Berwick’s walls. Five or six days link public town streets, Wall viewpoints and Bamburgh’s coast and castle setting, finishing beside Berwick’s bridges and river.

Northumberland: Hadrian's Wall, Castles & Coast is a 220 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as 5–6 days; the plan below is the 6-day version for June, built from 198 verified places, with planned transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

5–6
days
220km
distance
5
Stops
198
curated stops

View ready-made plans 5-day plan · 6-day plan · best time to go

The route

Newcastle→ 50 kmHexham & Hadrian's Wall→ 95 kmAlnwick→ 35 kmBamburgh & the Northumberland Coast→ 40 kmBerwick-upon-Tweed

What you'll see

Wallsend
Stand at Mile Zero of Hadrian's Wall and explore the Roman fort.
Newcastle
Hexham Abbey
Explore a historic church with Saxon roots and Victorian restoration.
Hexham & Hadrian's Wall
Dunstanburgh Castle
Take in the dramatic views from a 14th-century cliffside ruin.
Alnwick
Bamburgh public village-and-coast circuit
Use designated parking for Bamburgh village, beach and castle setting in suitable conditions; castle entry, museum, Farne Islands boat and wildlife claims remain separate.
Bamburgh & the Northumberland Coast
Berwick public walls-and-river circuit
Use lawful parking for Berwick’s public walls, bridges, river and town centre; barracks, houses, museums, castles, performances and golf remain separate.
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Newcastle Castle
Explore the ancient earth mound and wooden fort remnants.
Newcastle
Hexham-and-Hadrian’s-Wall public abbey-and-landscape circuit
Use official parking for Hexham’s public core and one bounded free-to-enter Wall landscape site; paid forts, museums, long-distance walking and events remain separate.
Hexham & Hadrian's Wall
Alnwick public market-town-and-castle-setting circuit
Use lawful town parking for Alnwick’s public centre and castle setting; castle and garden entry, museums, railway and outlying estates remain separate.
Alnwick

Choose your length

5-day plan18 stops · 7.5 h transit3.6 stops/day · 1.5 h transit/daySee the full plan →6-day plan25 stops · 8.3 h transit4.2 stops/day · 1.4 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: May, June, July, August, September

Puffin season on the Farne Islands and safe causeway crossings to Lindisfarne at low tide — check the tide tables before driving out, every year cars are caught.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

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View ready-made plans