Best Time of Year to Bike Hadrian’s Wall Cycleway

Make the most of this journey by cycling during the summer when you’re giving yourself the best chance of dry days. Of course, England has the chance of rain at any time, especially in the far north of the country where the wall lies. It’s best to come prepared for all conditions, whichever month you’re considering the ride. After all, there’s no such thing as bad weather as long as you have the right clothing and gear.

Officially things open up along Route 72 in early March, with the weather improving through spring. The number of people on the Hadrian’s Wall path and at the various Roman forts, museums and historic sites increases as you get closer to summer. June to August are the busiest periods on Hadrian’s Cycleway before the shoulder season of September sees numbers start to dwindle again. The cooler months of the rest of the year don’t render the ride unfeasible; autumn and winter on Hadrian’s Wall will just be a different experience. You might find tourist facilities and accommodation harder to come by along the length of the route.

When planning your trip, it’s worth noting that because you will be riding through some of the emptiest parts of England on your Hadrian’s Wall cycle, there aren’t the annual events or traditional festivals to time your trip around that you find on some other trails. That’s not to say you won’t stumble on something interesting, but it’s unlikely to determine your chosen season.

The summer months provide the best opportunity for drier days, longer periods of sunshine and decent temperatures, reaching around 16-19°C (60-66ºF). Later in the season, the heather across the Northumberland National Park starts to bloom, and swathes of fragrant purple flowers cover the hills and crags in parts.

All this makes for optimum exploring, which means that visitor numbers are high, with the most people walking and cycling Hadrian’s Wall at this time of year. July and August are the peak periods on Hadrian’s Wall, so expect to share the sites and towns with plenty of other people during these months.

If you enjoy the company of other cyclists and walkers, summer is the best time of year for you to travel. It means you’ll be able to form comraderies with like-minded travellers and cyclists. But do be aware that the busy season can also make finding accommodation and somewhere peaceful to eat and drink harder at this time of year.

Riding along Hadrian’s Wall in winter is a different sort of challenge, and very few people attempt the entire crossing of Route 72 at this time. In fact, the National Trail authorities in charge of maintaining the Hadrian’s Wall path request that walkers don’t attempt the trail from October to April. The reason is that the days are shorter and the weather is inevitably colder and wetter, which can render the path muddy and at serious risk of damage from trekking boots.

Undoubtedly, the frosted landscape, misty horizons, or frozen remnants of Hadrian’s Wall can look spectacular at this time, and you’ll certainly have long stretches of the cycle route to yourself.

However, you will struggle for accommodation options, and the promise of a log fire and hearty pub grub might not be as easy to fulfil as lots of places will be closed for the off-season.