The Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered a great wall to be built in 122 AD. It was ‘to separate the Romans from the Barbarians’ and it was built across the narrowest point of northern Britain, between the Solway Firth in the west and the North Sea in the east. It was extended with stone defences following the natural ridge lines, with a deep ditch known as The Vallum alongside it. Later, much of the stonework was mortared enabling it to survive for centuries, becoming one of the oldest structures in the country today. The path for walking that traces its line is however the most recent National Trail, opened in the spring of 2003. You too can feel like a Legionary as you walk its 82 mile (133 km) length.

It is a tremendous walk with a huge variety of scenery. Walking from east to west, there are the modern cityscapes of Newcastle upon Tyne, ending with the red sandstone of medieval Carlisle – from the blustery heights of Highshields Crags in the Northumberland National Park to the lime green pastoral scenes of the Eden valley. Starting at little more than a grassy bank, it moves into stone and rollercoasters over crag tops and down into examples of impressive Roman forts, such as Housesteads.

After visiting the excavated fort at Segedunum, you set off along the River Tyne and under the Tyne Bridge, walking on the line of the wall for the first time at Heddon on the Wall. You then continue beside the road, past milecastles and the Roman forts at Vindobala, Onvvm and Chesters at Chollerford with its impressive bath house and remains of a Roman bridge. Moving into the Northumberland National Park, you pass the temple at Mithraeum before leaving the road and heading up onto Sewingshields Crags where you have great views over Broomlee Lough to Housesteads Fort, with its Roman latrines. You continue via Steel Rigg before dropping down to the remains of the 14th century Thirlwall Castle and past the Romano-Victorian Birdoswald fort. The landscape becomes gentler as you walk down into the lovely Eden Valley and on to Carlisle. This town, with both Roman and medieval features, has a rather chequered border history. Usually you have two nights here as the final flattish walk to Bowness on Solway you do in reverse by taking the morning bus and walking back into Carlisle, allowing plenty of time to look around the town.

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St Cuthbert’s Way, a 62.5 mile (100 km) walk, crosses from the Scottish Borders to the Northumberland Coast. St Cuthbert, who was canonised in the 7th century, was a native of the borders. Although this beautiful walk can be enjoyed in either direction, this route follows chronologically the life of St Cuthbert.

The walk begins in Melrose, the location of St Cuthbert’s early monastic life, and ends in Lindisfarne (Holy Island), the area of St Cuthbert’s later ministry and death. Along the way places associated with the life and work of St. Cuthbert can be seen along with features from Roman and medieval times reflecting the long periods of strife in this border area. The final stage of the walk is spectacular as it culminates in the crossing to Lindisfarne Island along a causeway which is only exposed at low tide. It affords one of the most amazing views in Britain.

Melrose Abbey was where the young Cuthbert began his work and where he eventually became Bishop. Holy Island is the place of his burial. He was canonised eleven years after his death when his coffin was opened and his remains were found to be perfectly preserved. Some monks moved his coffin to St. Cuthbert’s Cave, which is featured on the walk, to escape Viking raiders.

Starting from the attractive border town of Melrose, which is said to be the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart, in the remains of its famous Cistercian abbey, the walk heads over the conical covered Eildon Hills, with spectacular views of the Tweed Valley. The trail continues onto the little village of Ancrum and then across countryside and moorlands to the village of Kirk Yetholm which is at the northern end of the Pennine Way. It then skirts the northern slopes of the Cheviot Hills, crossing the beautiful College Valley, and on to the small market town of Wooler, finally crossing the border into England. The walk crosses moors and pastures to Fenwick from where there is a short transfer to the accommodation at Lowick. The final day’s walk crosses the famous sandy tidal causeway to Lindisfarne with its castle and Abbey ruins.

There is an optional two night extension to Bamburgh and then on to Craster, past two amazing castles. Weather permitting, you may like to take a boat trip to the Farne Islands, a group of 28 islands about two miles off the coast from Bamburgh. The Farnes are a National Trust reserve that protects the largest breeding population of Atlantic Grey Seals and a whole host of bird species.

The Farne Islands are also famous for being where Grace Darling lived and where her father was lighthouse keeper. They lived on Brownsman Island, one of the Farne Islands. Many of the islands are hidden by the water as the tides can be exceptionally high.

Inn to Inn 8 Days
Duration: 7 nights/8 days or 9 nights/10 days
Tour Code: WSC
Grade: Moderate
Day Stages: Minimum 5.5 miles, max 15 miles

Accommodation
7 nights/8 days
Our first night stop is at a charming B&B right by the ancient Abbey of Melrose. At Ancrum our B&B is part of a row of houses built around 1750. In Morebattle we stay in a recently refurbished establishment which is directly on the St Cuthberts Way. The hotel is the hub of the village in Kirk Yetholm and offers good food and ale. In Wooler our guesthouse is a charming 17th century stone-built house with all the usual modern comforts. At Lowick, (near Fenwick) our accommodation started life in the 17th century as an inn and it continues to be popular with locals and visitors today. The pub has an emphasis on home cooked, value for money meals. Our final night is spent on the island of Lindisfarne where we stay in a modern guesthouse that has beautiful views over the causeway and Cheviot Hills.

9 nights/10 days
On the 10 day tour the first night you spend at a well equipped hotel in Bamburgh beneath the towering castle walls. The final night is spent in a small hotel at Craster

Notes
Waymarks
The route is marked with the distinctive St Cuthbert’s Cross waymark.

Accommodation and Meals
Bed and breakfast throughout, in comfortable Inn’s, B&B’s and guesthouse’s. Ensuite facilities most nights.

Start and End of Tour
The starting point is Melrose, reached by bus (not Sundays) from Berwick-upon-Tweed (the nearest train station) or from Edinburgh. Both stations are on the East Coast main line route from London. The nearest airports are Edinburgh and Newcastle.
The tour ends after breakfast on Day 8 at Lindisfarne. Taxi to Berwick Upon Tweed train station (approx £15). It is possible to do this journey by bus, but the schedule is rather unpredictable because of the tide. Edinburgh is only 50 minutes and London is reached in a little over 4 hours by train.

On the 10 day tour there are local buses to the mainline rail stations at Alnmouth and Newcastle Upon Tyne.

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St Oswalds Way self-guided walking:
St Oswald was the king of Northumbria in the early 7th century and played a major part in bringing Christianity to this area. This self-guided walk provides generally easy walking over changing and attractive countryside and is a pageant of changing scenery: coastline, castles, charming villages, hills, river valleys, farmlandf and forest. It begins with Holy Island (Lindisfarne) in the north and follows the dramatic Northumberland coast down to Warkworth, before heading inland across stunning countryside to Rothbury, Kirkwhelpington and then to Heavenfield and Hadrian’s Wall in the south, a distance of 97 miles (156 km).

Oswald, born about 604, died in battle against the pagan Mercians in about 642, converting to Christianity after the battle of Heavenfield about 633. Oswald gave the island of Lindisfarne to the Irish bishop Aiden, acting as his interpreter whilst the bishop preached.

St Oswalds Way guided walking:
£995 (10 days), 31 Jul 2009
We are also running a 10 day guided walking trip along the same route. Please enquire for more details.

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Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1:	Lindisfarne (Holy Island) to Belford – 12 miles. Transfer from Alnmouth train station to Holy Island. As the crossing is tidal to Holy Island we need to check crossing times prior to confirming dates. You start from Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island and cross the causeway to the mainland. From here you share the route of St Cuthbert’s Way for 9 miles and then continue to follow the coast path to Belford. You will stay the night in Belford where there are a number of establishments to eat in and share your stories of the first days walking.
Day 2:	Belford to Seahouses – 11 miles. From Belford you head east past Budle Bay and rejoin the coast near Bamburgh. Bamburgh was the site of King Oswald’s royal seat. It is now dominated by one of Northumberland’s most familiar landmarks, the magnificent Bamburgh Castle. From here you head towards the popular seaside village of Seahouses, where boat trips to the nearby Farne Islands can be taken (not included in the trip cost). The accommodation at the end of this day will be in Seahouses.
Day 3:	Seahouses to Craster – 10 miles. The route continues southwards past Beadnell and Beadnell Bay to Low Newton-by-the-Sea and Embleton Bay. When tides are allow, it is possible to walk on the beach as an alternative at various points on this section. After this, St Oswald’s Way passes the romantic ruins of another famous Northumbrian castle, Dunstanburgh, before arriving at the fishing village of Craster. The accommodation this night is located just a short way south of the picturesque village of Craster.
Day 4:	Craster to Alnmouth/ Warkworth – 13 ½ miles. From the picturesque village of Craster, famous for its oak-smoked kippers, St. Oswald’s Way continues southwards down the coast. It passes the site of Northumberland’s earliest Stone Age settlement at Howick, before arriving at the village of Boulmer, with the nearby Royal Air Force base. As you head towards Alnmouth, the beautiful beach can be used as an alternative to the path on the shore, which passes two golf courses, including one of the oldest in England. After heading through the peaceful seaside resort of Alnmouth, the route passes around the Aln Estuary before using paths through the coastal dunes with splendid views of Amble and Coquet Island. St. Oswald’s Way then meets the River Coquet for the first time at the historic village of Warkworth. Tonight you will be staying in Alnmouth/ Warkworth.
Day 5:	Alnmouth/ Warkworth to Weldon Bridge – 11 ½ miles. Warkworth is a beautiful village set in a meander of the River Coquet beneath the imposing castle. From here, St. Oswald’s Way wanders up the scenic Coquet valley. It passes through the village of Felton then through woodland and along riverside paths to Weldon Bridge. This night you will be staying in Weldon Bridge and staying in some wonderful accommodation renowned for its food. Just what’s needed after 5 days walking.
Day 6:	Weldon Bridge to Rothbury – 6 ½ miles. The route then stays on the southern side of the Coquet, glimpsing the historic Brinkburn Priory on the other side of the river, through attractive rolling farmland to reach Rothbury, “the Capital of Coquetdale”, set in superb Northumberland scenery. After this short days walking it gives you plenty of time to explore the wonderful market town of Rothbury. If you wish you can visit Cragside House, which is currently owned by the National Trust. ‘The palace of a modern magician’, inventor Lord Armstrong and Victorian England’s most technologically-advanced mansion. This night you will be staying in Rothbury in some lovely accommodation nestled on the hillside, looking south over Rothbury itself.
Day 7:	Rothbury to Knowesgate – 13 ½ miles. The picturesque and ancient village of Rothbury is set in the Coquet valley and surrounded by hills. St. Oswald’s Way leaves the River Coquet here and heads southwards again, this time over remote but appealing country. The route enters Northumberland National Park and passes the remains of an Iron Age hill fort and rock carvings at Lordenshaws. The heather-clad moors of the Simonside Hills are crossed before reaching Harwood Forest, a large plantation managed by the Forestry Commission. The route then crosses attractive farmland to reach the settlement of Knowesgate. Tonight you will stay in Knowesgate itself, in a hotel which serves food.
Day 8:	Knowesgate to Great Whittington – 12 miles. This section of St. Oswald’s Way starts at Knowesgate before it passes down to the attractive village of Kirkwhelpington and runs southwards through picturesque rolling farmland. This part of the walk is fairly remote and includes interesting small settlements such as Great Bavington and Hallington before reaching the village of Great Whittington. From Great Whittingham you will have a nights accommodation in one of its neighbouring villages.
Day 9:	Great Whittington to Heavenfield – 7 miles. After a short distance back to where you left the route you walk south of Great Whittington to where the route joins Hadrian’s Wall Path and runs westwards along the famous Roman frontier to the historic site of Heavenfield, the ‘end’ of St. Oswald’s Way. You will then be transferred from Heavenfield to the Newcastle Central Station or Newcastle Airport. Alternatively we can add an extra night stay for you in Newcastle upon Tyne.

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