Harrow and Wembley Outdoor Group - Hadrian's Wall Bank Holiday Weekend Away

Dates

Fri-Mon Aug 26th-29th

Organisers

Malcolm and Diane

Cost

£78 (including supplement) per person for 3 nights

Activities

For the August Bank Holiday weekend, we are staying next to Hadrian's Wall, the UNESCO world heritage site in Northumberland. Our venue is the new YHA hostel at the Sill, just a few minutes' walk from the Wall. The Sill has mostly ensuite dorms, full catering and is surrounded by the best-preserved Roman forts created to defend the frontier in AD122. The Hadrian Wall bus AD122 stops at all the historical sites along the wall and allows linear walks alongside the Wall.

Friday: After settling in we plan a short stroll up to one of the most dramatic sections of Hadrian's wall. After dark the hostel has minimal external lighting as it is the middle of the largest Dark Sky Park in UK. Superb for star gazing on our first night here.

Saturday: We plan a 9 mile walk along Hadrian's Wall which can be walked along for its entire length. This walk will include Housesteads which is the best-preserved Roman Fort in Britain, garrisoned by a thousand soldiers. We also visit several milecastles built each mile along the wall, including "Nicks Castle". There is a chance to see the much photographed "Sycamore Gap", seen in "Robin Hood". In 2016 it took the crown for the English tree of the year. The walk involves some hills with great views over the Northumberland countryside.

Sunday: We plan an 8 mile walk in the opposite direction to Cawfields Quarry. The second Legion built this to protect the weak spot of hole gap. It hangs onto the edge of sheer crags. You can also see the bedrock of the Whinn Sill in Cawfields itself. Also option to walk to Vindolanda Fort (1 mile from hostel) which is another superb Roman site with full scale replicas of the original fortifications. Other walks can be arranged using the AD122 bus to other Roman forts and historic sites.

Monday: Diane is leading a walk around Ashgill Force, near Alston, the highest waterfall in the area. Alston is a very scenic town on the Pennine Way. Brian is leading a city walk around the riverside of Newcastle including the famous Tyne bridges and the Baltic Exchange Art Gallery. Train travellers have to change trains here. Option to get early train from Bardon Mill, spend time in Newcastle, and book late afternoon LNER train back from Newcastle.

Refreshments

Hostel does full catering with picnic site in landscaped gardens. Self-catering kitchen. Pub 5 minutes' walk , packed lunches for walks. Cafes at tourist sites along the Wall.

Travel

Bardon Mill station is just 2 miles from hostel with bus connection. Change trains at Newcastle. Arranging lifts is an individual responsibility and is not arranged by leaders.

Accommodation

YHA Sill, Hadrian's Wall, Bardon Mill, NE47 7AN

Links

Guidance for COVID-safe Walks and Events
YHA The Sill at Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall
Roman Vindolanda Fort and Museum
Housesteads Roman Fort

Please complete the form below, and we'll forward your booking request to the event organiser.

Your Name: Your full name

Please fill in this field

Gender: Your gender

Please fill in this field

Email: Your email address

Please fill in this field

Booking Request: For each attendee for whom you are booking, state their full name. If rooms are available and you want to book one, then please state details. Don't request room if not stated as available. No need to mention event name, date or organiser. All booking requests are subject to our conditions below.

Please fill in this field

Booking conditions for HAWOG events

If you submit a booking and your request can be met then you are committed to the purchase.
It is your responsibility to know or check in advance the total price per person or room.
If your request can be met then you'll receive an email from the organiser informing you of the total price, how calculated, and you'll be required to pay within 14 days of the date of the email. It's your responsibility to remember to check and respond to that email.
All places purchased are for a single bed in a same sex room exclusive to our group, unless agreed otherwise in writing by the organiser or you have booked a stated, available room. The number of beds in a room will vary.
If you cancel you will only get a refund if someone else pays for your place. Until then, you'll be expected to pay any outstanding balance. It's your responsibility to find a replacement, you can do this by emailing our group and informing that you have a place to sell, and letting the event organiser know. The group will sell remaining uncommitted places first before 'returned' places.

If your request cannot be met then you will be informed of this and what possibilities are available. You may then inform the organiser if you want to be added to a waiting list and/or submit another booking which meets one of the possibilities. A waiting list means you get informed soonest if suitable places or rooms become available, it does not commit you to purchasing them but you will need to confirm, and book, in a short period of time if you want them.

Methods of Payment

Whilst most membership, surcharges and events can be paid for online via our PayPal account, there are a few alternatives for attendees and events where online payment via our PayPal account is not possible:

Pay electronically direct to our group bank account.
Pay in person at a branch of our group's bank.
Get someone else to pay online for you.
Ask the organiser of events you need to pay for, if they will accept payment direct to them (and they pay group for you).
Occasionally, cash and cheques may be accepted at key events and dates.
Cash and cheques may be accepted for a small handling charge.

For all of the above, please ensure the Chair, Treasurer or event organiser knows how you will pay. Please email us for more information.

Please complete the form below, and we'll forward your query to the event organiser. This form should NOT be used for urgent messages or for bookings.