New Season nearly here for Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail.

The 1^st May is rapidly approaching. On this date, the 2011 National Trail passport season will start. The season runs from the 1^st of May to the end of October each year.

View of Trail at Heavenfield, looking West towards Chollerford.

The award winning Hadrian's Wall Country Bus AD122 Service will also operate between Good Friday 22^nd April and Sunday 30^th October.

Approximately 10000 walkers will complete the Trail this season and they will come from a wide variety of places from around the World and this country. Not only will they get to see such a magnificent monument, they will get to see a wide variety of stunning scenery and countryside.

Walkers, who complete the whole Trail in one season, can get a badge and certificate. To prove that they have walked the whole Trail in one season, they have to collect a stamp in their passport from each of the seven stamping stations spaced out along the route.

Stamping Stations:

• Segedunum Roman Fort (Wallsend)
• Robin Hood Inn, (B6318 Military Road)
• Chesters Roman Fort (Chollerford)
• Housesteads Fort * NEW in 2010 *
• Birdoswald Roman Fort (Gilsland)
• Sands Centre or Tullie House Museum (Carlisle)
• The Banks Promenade or The Kings Arms Inn (Bowness-on-Solway)

Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail is promoted to walkers and visitors as a spring, summer and autumn destination. It is not promoted as a winter destination; as during these months the soil can become waterlogged and the important archaeology under the surface can be damaged.

View of trail looking West, towards Chollerford.

A great deal of maintenance and monitoring of the Trail takes place during the winter months. Work will have been carried out on the gates, stiles, signage, footbridges and eroded and waterlogged areas of the Trail.

Monitoring of the Trail’s condition is carried out by the Volunteer Rangers. They can be identified by their royal blue fleeces and waterproofs, which are customised with the National Trail Acorn and World Heritage Site logo.

As one of these Rangers, I have weather permitting, been out on my section of the Trail during the Winter months picking up litter, replacing signs, cleaning mud from stiles, clearing vegetation etc.  Probably the most important is being the person on the ground, seeing the problem areas on the Trail and with the archaeology. Any problems noted can be raised with the Volunteer Coordinator or Trail Manager at Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Limited.

The work carried out by Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Limited and all of the National Trail Volunteer Rangers along the route, ensures that the Trail is in its best condition to be enjoyed by all of the walkers and visitors to such an important World Heritage Site.

It is important for all users of the Trail to follow the Countryside Code:

1. Be safe, plan ahead and follow any signs.
2. Leave gates and property as you find them.
3. Protect plants and animals and take your litter home.
4. Keep dogs under close control.
5. Consider other people.

I am really looking forward to the new season, as the weather gets warmer there will be more routine maintenance to carry out and more walkers and visitors to welcome on the Trail and answer any questions that they might have. My particular section of the Trail is a stretch of just over three miles, starting at Portgate (Errington Arms, Stagshaw Roundabout) to Heavenfield (near Chollerford).

Looking East towards Portgate.