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Coast-to-coast cycling from Ravenglass to South Shields

Guidebook to Hadrian's Cycleway, a 174 mile coast-to-coast route across northern England, following the corridor of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site. From Ravenglass in Cumbria through Northumberland to South Shields, with an alternative Tynemouth finish, on cycle paths and quiet country roads suitable for cyclists of all abilities.

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Quick facts

Guide name: Hadrian's Cycleway
Location: Northern England, Cumbria to Tyne and Wear
Start point: Ravenglass, Cumbria
End point: South Shields (alternative finish at Tynemouth)
Distance: 174 miles (280km)
Number of stages: 3 stages (suggested); 4 and 5-day options also described
Direction: West to east (east to west also described)
Typical duration: 3–5 days; a 2-day Wall-only option of 100 miles (161km) is also included
Difficulty: Suitable for cyclists of all abilities; worth being saddle fit before attempting
Terrain: Quiet country roads and cycle paths throughout
Navigation/mapping: 1:100,000 mapping, city-centre detail maps, elevation profiles, and GPX downloads included
Key centres: Ravenglass, Whitehaven, Maryport, Silloth, Bowness-on-Solway, Carlisle, Brampton, Haltwhistle, Once and Twice Brewed, Hexham, Corbridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, South Shields
Highlights: Hadrian's Wall, Sycamore Gap, the Solway Coast and AONB, the Roman forts of Birdoswald, Vindolanda, Housesteads and Chesters, Carlisle Castle, Lanercost Priory, the Tyne Bridge, and the Conversation Piece installation at South Shields
Accommodation & logistics: Facilities listings, accommodation information, and practical travel advice for start and finish points
Best time to go: Suitable all year round; April to October preferred

Detailed overview

Cycle Hadrian's Cycleway and follow one of northern England's most historically rich long-distance routes, tracing the corridor of Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site on a 174-mile (280km) coast-to-coast journey from Ravenglass in Cumbria to South Shields on the North Sea. Passing Roman forts, dramatic moorland, the Solway Coast, and the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, this waymarked route is one of Britain's most rewarding cycle touring adventures.

This trusted Cicerone guidebook by Rachel Crolla and Carl McKeating describes the full 174-mile route on quiet roads and cycle paths suitable for cyclists of all abilities, with a suggested three-day itinerary and more leisurely four- and five-day options. A shortened two-day Wall-only option and an alternative stage riding closer to Hadrian's Wall itself are also included.

Cycle Hadrian's Cycleway in 3 days with suggested stages of 53–64 miles (85–103km), or choose a more leisurely 4 or 5-day itinerary to allow more time to explore the Roman history and landscapes along the route
Highlights of the route include Ravenglass, the Solway Coast and AONB, Carlisle Castle, Lanercost Priory, the Roman forts of Birdoswald, Vindolanda, Housesteads and Chesters, Hexham, the Tyne Bridge, and the Conversation Piece installation at South Shields
Navigate with confidence using clear route descriptions with 1:100,000 mapping, city-centre detail maps, and elevation profiles, with GPX files for all route variants available to download
Tackle a shorter two-day, 100-mile (161km) Wall-only cycle tour, or follow an alternative stage that rides closer to Hadrian's Wall than the official route, offering greater flexibility for your trip
Plan your Hadrian's Cycleway adventure with comprehensive facilities listings, accommodation information, local history, and practical advice on travel to and from Ravenglass and South Shields

Plan your Hadrian's Cycleway adventure with confidence using this comprehensive guidebook. Immerse yourself in two thousand years of history, wild northern landscapes, and the rich heritage of Roman Britain on one of England's most compelling coast-to-coast cycle routes.

Where and when to go

Seasons

Hadrian's Cycleway can be cycled all year round, but preferably April-October.

Centres

Ravenglass, Whitehaven, Maryport, Silloth, Bowness-on-Solway, Carlisle, Brampton, Haltwhistle, Once and Twice Brewed, Hexham, Corbridge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, South Shields

Difficulty

This 174 mile ride is within the reach of cyclists of all abilities, via varying itineraries. The guide describes a suggested three-day of 50-60 miles per day and outlines shorter and longer options to suit all abilities. For enjoyment it is worth being saddle fit and completed some training.

Must See

Hadrian's Wall; milecastles; Sycamore Gap; Cumbrian west coast; Solway Coast and AONB; Sellafield nuclear facility; Maryport's octagonal lighthouse; Holmcultram Abbey; Burgh Marsh; Cawfield Quarry; Roman forts of Birdoswald, Vindolanda, Housesteads, Chesters, Glannaventa, Segedunum and Arbeia; Lanercost Priory; Carlisle Castle; Edward I memorial; Steel Rigg; Corbridge; Roman Army Museum; Tyne Bridge; Conversation Piece installation at South Shields

Map key

Overview map and profile

Route summary tables

Introduction

Why choose Hadrian's Cycleway?

How tough is it?

How many days?

West to east or east to west?

Getting there and back

Where to stay

What kind of bicycle?

Equipment

Carrying your gear

What to wear

Maps and apps

Signage

Hadrian's Wall

Who was Hadrian?

Seeing more of the Wall

Alternative endings: running late and Tynemouth

Using this guide

Hadrian's Cycleway

The three-day ride

Day 1 Ravenglass to Silloth

Day 2 Silloth to Haltwhistle

Day 2A More Wall Alternative

Day 3 Haltwhistle to South Shields

Other itineraries

The Wall Only - a shortened two-day version

Appendix A Accommodation

Appendix B Bike shops and other useful contacts

Appendix C Further reading

Which format is best for me?

Printed book

A guidebook with detailed route descriptions, stage breakdowns, accommodation listings, profiles and maps — everything you need on the trail.

ISBN	9781786310422
Availability	Published
Published	12 August 2020
Reprinted	15 July 2025
Weight	170g

eBook

The complete digital edition of the guidebook, with full route descriptions, accommodation listings, profiles and maps, ready to use on any device.

Updates

Updated 17 June 2022
Date error
On p27 the text should read: 'The Roman Emperor Julius Caesar began the gradual process of conquering Britain in 55 BC. However, the true conquest began in earnest under Emperor Claudius in 43 AD.'
Updated 6 September 2021
Recommended route through Carlisle
Unfortunately, the first section of the authors' recommended route through Carlisle beside the river, which was formerly the official primary route of HCW before the 2015 flooding, is not presently passible. This is due to a landowner now blocking access, rather than being a result of flood damage.
The authors have liaised with Sustrans regarding the present route line of the HCW. The situation looks unlikely to change in the short to medium term. Therefore, from summer 2021 onwards, it will be necessary to use the on-road route via Newton Road, passing the McVities Factory to reach Carlisle Castle, where a left down Mayor's Drive towards Sheepmount Athletics Stadium allows access to the second half of the pleasant river route through Bitts Park and Rickerby Park.
We will update here if there are any changes to the access situation.

Meet the authors

Rachel Crolla

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Rachel Crolla is an outdoors all-rounder who loves hiking, biking, scrambling and climbing. She grew up in Yorkshire, where she still lives with her partner Carl McKeating and their young family. Rachel is an outdoors writer and photographer who is also trained as a journalist and teacher. She has hiked and climbed across the UK, Europe and the USA. In 2007 Rachel became the first woman to reach the summit of every country in Europe – she co-wrote the Cicerone guide book Europe’s High Points soon afterwards. Rachel has since co-written a guide to the mountains of the Massif Central in France and more recently has enjoyed writing about areas in the UK. She and Carl fully updated the Cicerone guide book Scrambles in Snowdonia, which was originally written by Steve Ashton in 1980. Rachel’s first cycling guide to the Yorkshire and Lancashire-based Way of the Roses was published in 2018. Rachel and Carl are passionate about enthusing the next generation of hikers and cyclists with a love of the outdoors.

Carl McKeating

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Carl McKeating is from Yorkshire. He is the co-author with Rachel Crolla of the books Europe’s High Points and Walking in the Auvergne published by Cicerone. Carl has also worked on the Yorkshire Gritstone: Volume 2 climbing guide for the YMC (2014) and is the co-updater with Rachel Crolla of Steve Ashton’s classic Scrambles in Snowdonia (Cicerone, 2017). A rock climbing and mountaineering enthusiast, in addition to ascending all of Europe’s national high points, in 2010 he completed a long-standing ambition to climb all the routes in Ken Wilson’s Classic Rock which he followed with a three month climbing and mountaineering tour of America. Inspired by Rachel Crolla’s work on a guide to the Way of the Roses cycling route, Carl has recently rediscovered his love of cycling. He loves playing football and guitar – both of which he does badly. A qualified English teacher, in 2014 Carl started work on a doctorate about Mont Blanc in British Culture. Carl and Rachel are passionate about enthusing the next generation of hikers and cyclists with a love of the outdoors.