I walked the Hadrian’s Wall Path in August 2014 and had cold, windy and wet weather.  This list reflects that time of the year. There is however a baggage service which can pick up and drop off your bag at your destination daily. Howard used the Walkers Baggage Transport company and it cost £7 daily, he usually booked the same day for the next’s day pick up. If using this service just make sure to bring a daypack big enough for food, water, wet weather gear, extra socks, fleece etc to carry with you.

Starting from the bottom up…

CLOTHES

• Hiking Shoes – Again I wore my Salomon GTX XA Ultra 3D shoes as I’m much more comfortable in shoes than boots and I also use two poles to steady me on rocky paths, but this comes down to personal preference. The first and last day was road / path walking and the middle days were through fields (often muddy) and some uneven terrain where you need to be careful with your ankles.

• Sandals – for shower and evening -I love my TEVA Tirra sandals

• Socks x 3 lightweight smartwool

• Hiking pants x 1, green Kiwi Pro-Stretch Craghoppers – quick dry, lightweight, stretchy and comfortable

• Waterproof pants – a necessity walking in England!

• Gators – These were terrific over my wet weather pants for all the muddy fields

• Shorts x 1, poly material, light, quickdry, zip pockets for money

• Knee brace – I have a bad knee

• Underpants x 3 – I wear Icebreaker hipkini, I find merino is the best for breathability and quick dry

• Shirts x 2 short-sleeve quick-dry t-shirts (washed one each evening and wore the alternative one to dinner)

• Sports bra x 2

• Icebreaker sleeves – these are one of my favourite items. I wear them with short sleeve t-shirts and it saves me from constantly taking off and putting on a fleece, I can simply roll them down my arm if I get hot.

• Buff – to keep your neck warm, but can also be used as a hat, headband etc

• Fleece x 1 – a lightweight merino

• Jacket x 1 – Macpac Event – invest in a good waterproof, breathable and lightweight jacket unless you take an umbrella or good poncho

• Hat – I use a sports cap that fits under my rain jacket hood and helps to keep the rain off my face

• Sunglasses

 BACKPACK & ACCESSORIES

• Backpack – I use a Lowe Airzone Trek ND33-40, it’s lightweight and small

• Backpack raincover

• Backpack liner – I recommend using a dry bag inside your backpack for extra protection against rain, I have a 40 litre dry bag inside mine.

• Mesh bags for inside pack to compartmentalise clothes

• Guidebook – Trailblazer Hadrian’s Wall Path by Henry Stedman, 4th Edition

• Ziplock bags – for keeping things like passport/guidebook/pilgrim’s passport etc dry and also good for storing leftover food if you cook. Pack as many as you can.

• Water Container –  1 x 2 litre water bottle and tube

• Walking poles – I use and love my PACER POLES

• Headlamp – only really necessary if staying in hostels or walking before or after sunrise

• Alarm Clock – use phone/watch

• Clothes Line – I have the lifeventure pegless clothes line and it is the most used item I own!

• Towel: ULTRALIGHT PACKTOWEL (you can rent one in most YHA’s and they are provided in B&B’s / pubs)

• Ear plugs – definitely a necessity in the hostels

• Eye mask – good to use in hostels when headlamps are shining your way

• Foldable daypack – Sea to summit Ultra Sil 20l pack

• Sleeping Bag – I didn’t take mine on this walk because all of the accommodation (hostels / B&B’s / pubs) provided bedding

• S hook – I took one from my dad’s garden and use it for hanging things up in showers when there are no hooks

• Safety pins – for hanging wet clothes on your pack to dry

ELECTRONICS

• Camera – I use a Sony RX 100 compact digital camera

• GPS – I use a Garmin 62s and find it helpful for recording my tracks, distances, elevation etc

• Phone – I use my iPhone as a second camera

• Nano – I like listening to music and audiobooks whilst walking

• Chargers for camera/phone/nano…

• Adaptor Plug – if you’re not from England

• Spare batteries – AA for my GPS and AAA for my headlamp

TOILETRIES & FIRST AID

• Shampoo – None of the B&B’s we stayed at provided shampoo. I use a LUSH shampoo bar for hair and body and it lasts more than a month

• Soap – multi-purpose soap for washing clothes, body, hair etc

• Toothbrush – Kathmandu does small, folding and lightweight toothbrushes

• Toothpaste – bring a small tube and you can always buy more

• Toilet paper / tissues – inevitably you’ll have to go somewhere along the trail but please take your rubbish with you

• FirstAid Kit– compeed blister pack, needle and thread, antiseptic cream, betadyne, ibuprofen, painkillers, sunscreen, lip balm, scissors, tweezers, Imodium, anti-histamine, antibacterial hand gel