Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail - 2011 Season

Hadrian's Wall is a remarkable monument to nearly four hundred years of Roman rule in Britain. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. In 2003, Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail was opened and the well trodden path is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The walking season begins in May and finishes in October, approximately 10,000 walkers will follow the route across the country.

The route will take the walker through urban landscape and magnificent countryside, and will provide many opportunities to see some wonderful sites.

Sycamore Gap - An iconic image associated with the Trail.

The 2011 season is rapidly coming to a close. Over the year as a National Trail Volunteer Ranger, I have been looking after and monitoring the Trail's condition, on a three and a quarter mile section. The season has seen periods of dry weather and prolonged periods of rain. July and August has been particulary wet this year!

Waterlogged path after heavy rain - mid August.

You are never certain of what you are going to find when out on your section of the Trail! Take this season for example. I have had to report dead sheep, remove stones and rubble from the path after a van crashed through a dry stone wall and report many waterlogged stretches.


The Trail started off as usual in an excellent condition, most off my visits over the season were completed without the need of full waterproofs. This was not to be the case for some of the walkers I have talked to. With the full walk taking more than five days plus, they were bound to get caught in some of the bad weather we have experienced.

Trail beside the Wall Vallum looking West