Styleforum › Forums › General › General Chat › Visiting Northern England
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Visiting Northern England

post #1 of 40
3/2/09 at 10:51am
Thread Starter 
My brother and I will be traveling to Northern England in early May to do a through-hike of the Hadrian's Wall path (roughly from Newcastle to Carlisle). For those familiar with the environs, do you have any recommendations about things we might see and do? We'll be on the trail much of the time, but will have a few extra days to explore the local area.
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 40
3/2/09 at 11:20am
Newcastle has some nice places, but generally it not the greatest same with Carlisle both are not the greatest places, Pretty rough too
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 40
3/2/09 at 11:25am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MLIW View Post
Newcastle has some nice places, but generally it not the greatest same with Carlisle both are not the greatest places, Pretty rough too

How so? Since we'll literally be walking through both cities, is there anything we should look out for?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 40
3/2/09 at 11:40am
If Roman forts are your cup of tea there are plenty of those on route.

Haltwhistle is a pleasant little town.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 40
3/2/09 at 11:48am
Don't bother visiting Lancaster.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 40
3/2/09 at 1:50pm
Head for the Lake District. Try Buttermere, Grasmere and Consiton as towns to look at rather than the very touristy (but equally beautiful) Ambleside, Keswick and Bowness.

If you like cities, Liverpool and Manchester have plenty going on. Liverpool even has some cultural significance and a proper football team.....
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 40
3/2/09 at 1:58pm
northern England? not sure of the exact geography but if you happen upon Penrith, go to the Penrith Tea Rooms and order cake and the finest wines known to humanity.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 40
3/2/09 at 2:18pm
VG - Apropos of nothing other than you will be there, this is a charming little book that obviously deals w/ football, but also so much more:

http://www.amazon.com/Far-Corner-Dri...6014059&sr=1-1

I cannot recomend it highly enough.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 40
3/2/09 at 2:42pm
Christ, that sounds like an amazing trip, particularly to do with one's brother.. Where'd you get the idea from? Not the usual weekend in Vegas most brothers tend to do..
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 40
3/2/09 at 2:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gnatty8 View Post
Christ, that sounds like an amazing trip, particularly to do with one's brother.. Where'd you get the idea from? Not the usual weekend in Vegas most brothers tend to do..

I'm a backpacker by hobby, so I've known about the Hadrian's Wall path for a few years now. It's been something I've wanted to do, but have never been able to arrange. My brother suggested we do a backpacking trip together, and I recommended the path. He's been to the UK a few times on tour with his band, but has never really had a proper chance to see the country.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 40
3/2/09 at 2:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vintage Gent View Post
My brother and I will be traveling to Northern England in early May to do a through-hike of the Hadrian's Wall path (roughly from Newcastle to Carlisle). For those familiar with the environs, do you have any recommendations about things we might see and do? We'll be on the trail much of the time, but will have a few extra days to explore the local area.

It's definitely worth going to Durham for the day - its just south of Newcastle. The Cathedral is world famous.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 40
3/2/09 at 3:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vintage Gent View Post
I'm a backpacker by hobby, so I've known about the Hadrian's Wall path for a few years now. It's been something I've wanted to do, but have never been able to arrange. My brother suggested we do a backpacking trip together, and I recommended the path. He's been to the UK a few times on tour with his band, but has never really had a proper chance to see the country.

Sounds like a great trip.. Take lots of pics and start a thread when you get back! How long does the hike take in total?
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 40
3/2/09 at 3:06pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vintage Gent View Post
I'm a backpacker by hobby, so I've known about the Hadrian's Wall path for a few years now. It's been something I've wanted to do, but have never been able to arrange. My brother suggested we do a backpacking trip together, and I recommended the path. He's been to the UK a few times on tour with his band, but has never really had a proper chance to see the country.

VG - I'm curious to know if your preference for things 'vintage' extends to your trekking clobber? Canvas rucksack, etc.? I just read a NYT piece on the Milford Track - put it on your list!

http://www.milfordtrack.net/
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 40
3/2/09 at 3:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tidybeard View Post
Head for the Lake District. Try Buttermere, Grasmere and Consiton as towns to look at rather than the very touristy (but equally beautiful) Ambleside, Keswick and Bowness.

I'll second this ... I was there in 1998 and had a wonderful time hiking in the Lake District. You can jump on a train from London and get to Ambleside in a few hours.

There are more than just pretty hiking sights. There are a few castles in the area; UK Naval Intelligence has an outpost in one (Wray Castle). You can also see the home of poet William Wordsworth, which has a very nice garden. I seem to recall that Beatrix Potter also came from the Lake District.

The memorable moment for the trip was when my buddy and I saw a Harrier fly UNDER us ... we were so close we could see the pilot's faceshield.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 40
3/2/09 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gnatty8 View Post
Sounds like a great trip.. Take lots of pics and start a thread when you get back! How long does the hike take in total?

If I recall, it's 84 miles. I could do it in four days, but we'll probably take 6-7 to give us more time to soak up the local color.

Quote:
Originally Posted by romafan View Post
VG - I'm curious to know if your preference for things 'vintage' extends to your trekking clobber? Canvas rucksack, etc.?

In this, no. In the parlance of the genre, I'm an ultralight backpacker, keeping things as light and minimalist as possible, while still keeping safety in mind.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: General Chat
Styleforum › Forums › General › General Chat › Visiting Northern England