Originally I planned my staging area to be Newcastle but the day before I was scheduled to leave for that city I checked the specifics and decided that was silly. Edinburgh isn't that far away and Wallsend is easily reached from the Newcastle Metro. So I prepared for the trip in Scotland surrounded by a familiar city and around noon on Saturday I was at Segedunum roman fort and museum in Wallsend.

Basically there are only foundations left at Segedunum so it isn't something to become terribly excited about, however, it was the beginning of Hadrian's Wall. This fort anchored the eastern end of the wall and gave the town it's name. Here the path starts just a couple blocks from the metro station. How convenient!

By the time I started the hike it was 12:40. That isn't exactly early but the trail isn't hard either. In fact it reminded me of the early parts of the Mountain to Sea Trail. Although I was usually on a walking/biking trail the surroundings were mostly industrialized, urban, or suburban. And from Segedunum the path leave the course of the wall (which development has obliterated) and follows the River Tyne.

It wasn't long before I had hiked back into Newcastle Upon Tyne. I restrained myself from entering the numerous waterfront pubs because I wanted to be sure I left the city far behind before looking for a spot to sleep. I did take many pictures however because there was some really cool architecture and a short side trip took me to Castle Keep a medieval castle built upon an older castle from 1080 which was built upon the earlier roman fort of Pons Aelius.

More riverside parks took me to a chance encounter with a eastbound hiker from Poland. We talked trail for awhile and I took some pictures. At the time I was still expecting to stealth camp so I needed to know what it was like ahead, and I could share what was behind me with my counterpart. Unfortunately I was dry. My water had run out long ago and I missed my refill point at a pub that I accidentally passed up. Oh well everything always works out...

Hiking up the hike toward the ruins of the wall soon brought me to a stone house on the side of the cobble street. Here I got water and found out from the nice lady that there is a bunkhouse in the town on the hilltop. Score! At only a mile away I would make the town at least an hour or two before dark and I knew there was a pub on the path. I could visit the pub for a little break and stay at the bunkhouse if there was availability.

Heddon-on-the-wall, as the name implies, is built right on the remains of Hadrian's Wall. Throughout its lenght the wall has been pillaged for stones to build roads and buildings so in many places not much remains of the former 15 foot high structure. This little town can boast as having the longest stretch of Broad Wall however. "Broad Wall" refers to the original 10 foot thick specification. Later the wall was reduced to 8 feet. The remains are just a short distance from the trail and I had read ahead in the guidebook and knew to make the detour. It was nice to return to the wall that I left at Segedunum.

So now I am at Houghton Farm, the aforementioned bunkhouse. It is really very nice - somewhere between a hostel and a B&B. Tomorrow I hope to upload this with their Internet connection and maybe get my clothes washed.