Traveller SPRING 2022

BY GERDA ENGELBRECHT
Hadrian's Wall
34
HIKE THE
BRITISH ISLES
Spain and France’s pilgrimage routes are world famous, but the UK has several hikes that
are just as rich in tradition, historical landmarks, and natural splendour. This is part two of
AA Traveller’s guide to epic hiking routes around the world. The third and last instalment
(to appear in our Summer 2023 issue) will focuses famous routes in the USA and Canada.
1
The Pilgrims’ Way
WHERE: Southwark Cathedral
(London) to Canterbury
Cathedral (Kent)
DISTANCE: 152 km, about 8
days
This pilgrims’ route links Winchester
and London with Kent, where the
pilgrimage ends at the shrine of St
Thomas Becket. Throughout the
ages, several British kings have
completed this route. It’s also forms
the backdrop for the stories featured
in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
2
Hadrian's Wall
WHERE: Wallsend to
Bowness-on-Solway, England
DISTANCE: 135 km, 6 days
You can tackle this route, which runs
along an ancient Roman wall, from
east to west or vice versa. The Roman
emperor Hadrian built the wall in 122 to
discourage attacks from troublesome
tribes to the north and to control the
movement of people. After the Romans
left England, large parts of the wall
remained intact for centuries.
In 1834, John Clayton (1782-1890),
Gilsland
Bowness-on-Solway
Chollerford
Heddon on the Wall
Newcastle upon Tyne
the town clerk of Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
started buying parts of the wall with the aim to
preserve it. The hiking route was established
in 2003. Connoisseurs believe you should hike
from the east to the west because that’s the
direction in which the wall was built, but if you
walk from the west to the east, the wind will
be at your back and the sun will be better for
taking photos. There are several historical
landmarks along the way and the towns have
good infrastructure in place to eat and sleep. >
Wallsen
AA Traveller | SPRING 2022