Bragil one

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I felt that this route was slightly inaccurate, particularly along the section from Turret 52A to Turret 50B where it looks as if you are going to be walking along the dead straight road (quiet, good visibility) for a couple of miles. However, the Hadrian’s Wall footpath goes inside field edges for most of this. It is fairly clear on the ground because HW Path is very well waymarked, so I guess I’d just be being pedantic!
I walked from Gilsland to Brampton on a sunny late winter’s day, and was very happy to be walking this marvellous National Trail almost straight away. I had just walked from Haltwhistle, so by the time I reached Birdoswald I was pleased to be able to stop there for a lunch break. As well as the whole visitor centre, there are toilets and a small café. The opening hours are quite restricted over winter though.
The eastern 60% of this route is along the HW Path and there is lots to see. Apart from wonderful views, there are numerous milecastles and turrets and a substantial amount of wall remaining, all with good information boards. I particularly liked the section over the River Irthing, with a modern footbridge and information and some remains of the original Roman Bridge. There was quite a steep path and steps down and up though!
Leaving the HW Path at the hamlet of Banks, there was a fairy ring of snowdrops, something I’ve never encountered before!
The road sections between Banks and Boothby were not much fun. Despite being Cycle Route 72, the cars seemed to go fairly fast, the drivers not wanting to lose momentum up the hills, but the roads had bends and often no verge, and it was necessary to have your wits about you, change sides frequently, and keep listening! However, there was a nice break from this, following the River Irthing around Lanercost Priory, which looks well worth a proper visit another time! The banks of the river comprised quite high cliffs in places, and I wouldn’t recommend going too close to the edge! This section was very lovely though.
Lanercost Old Bridge was very appealing too, but then I was back onto that road. It looks as if there is a footpath alongside Quarry Beck which might be a good alternative but it was getting a bit late to test this.
From Boothby there was a very lovely walk through Brampton Ridge Woods, with lots of big old trees, a good path, and lovely views down to the north west. According to the Woodland Trust there are sightings here of roe deer, red squirrel and foxes. Eventually, the footpath wound down into the appealing town of Brampton, and a welcome half pint before my bus to Carlisle.
I’d love to give the route 5* but that road section made me drop a star.

A great walk the country and a substantial section of Hadrian's Wall. There's some uphill climbs, unpaved roads and stiles and gates, as well as rough terrain, so it's a foot-only route.

From the centre of Brampton, we're almost straight onto the footpaths: a track zigzagging uphill and up on the Ridge. It's sandy and muddy in equal measure, but the route along the top and through the woods is a pleasant walk despite it. At the end, we head downhill and then along the edge of a field before arriving at a road.

The first of a couple of unpaved road walks, this section has very little traffic until we reach the junction with the main road into Lanercost. A road with many bends downhill, it's nevertheless quite safe if you take the normal precautions. At the bottom, over the bridge, before following the footpath through the meadows surrounding the priory, the river Irthing meandering on our right.

Eventually we hit the road again, which is paved but only as far as the cottages. From here it's unpaved, and uphill, steep in places. After a climb, we finally reach Banks, where we join Hadrian's Wall Path, and the first of a number of Roman features on this stretch of the Wall.

A mixture of footpaths, fields and road walking bring us to Coombe Crag, where we follow the Path through a muddy wood, before heading along the line of the vallum and turf wall for some distance. Eventually we come out at Birdoswald, which has a cafe as well as a Roman fort to look at if you wish.

Pushing on along the Wall, we arrive at a milecastle, and the path zigzags downhill, with some steps, to a bridge over the river. Lots of interesting Roman remains here, but we press on, following the Wall up steps to the farm of Willowford, before heading downhill into Gilsland where we reach the road and, walking a little uphill, come to the end by the bus stops.

A great walk through varied terrain with varied difficulties, with the added option of Roman and medieval history along the way.

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