Transport & Accommodation
There are many things to consider when looking ahead and planning your movements before and after an event of this type. Whether you are a seasoned pro taking on the Expert category or making a full weekend of it in the Challenger category, consider; what you think will be your finishing time for the event, the implications it will have on your onward movements once you’ve finished and where you’re going to park and stay pre/post event. Here is some helpful info on transport options to aid you in your planning. PLEASE NOTE: Carlisle Castle is now SOLD OUT
Public Transport
There are well established public transport links connecting our starting point at Carlisle Castle & finish point within Baltic Quay with a good service of buses and trains running throughout the weekend. A full timetable of trains leaving from Newcastle Central Station can be found at nationalrail.co.uk. A regular bus service is run by Arriva & Stagecoach, both of which depart from Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station. We will run a Shuttle Service to link The Wall finish and the Train & Eldon Square Bus Station.
Shuttle Buses
Newcastle Gateshead-Carlisle - To supplement the public transport options we will be offering the following bus transport timetable:
| date | departure time | route |
|---|---|---|
| 22nd june | 00.00 |
Baltic Quay, Newcastle Gateshead – Carlisle Castle |
| 23rd june | 23:00 |
Baltic Quay, Newcastle Gateshead – Carlisle Castle |
These will be subject to demand, and can be pre-booked for £15 by calling our Customer Services team on 01904 409 401. Don’t worry if you are not on schedule to make your bus, there’ll be a little bit of flexibility built in to the timetable & we’ll look after you if you miss it completely.
Finish Village (Baltic Quay)-Newcastle Bus & Railway Station - Once you’ve completed your epic journey, many of you will no doubt be taking advantage of the excellent Bus & Train links. To help you with this, we’ll be putting on a shuttle service to link our Finish at Baltic Quay with the Newcastle’s Central Railway Station & Eldon Square Bus Station. This shuttle bus service will run from approx. Saturday 1700 & Sunday 0730 until the last public bus & train service leaves Newcastle.
Finish Village to Showers - Hot showers will be provided at a location very close to the finish but after just completing 69miles, you’ll not want to walk very far! We’ll be laying on a Shuttle Bus to these showers so you can get cleaned and refreshed. The service will run as per demand, with the journey only taking a couple of minutes.
Parking
There are various places to park your car in both Carlisle & Newcastle Gateshead. A map and further details of car parks located in and around Carlisle can be found here. Most of these car parks are unsecured so consider where you park and what you leave behind. For parking around our finish you are not short of options either with a mix of 24hr parking, some of which is secured. More details and locations can be found here.
Accommodation
Carlisle Castle- To add to The Wall experience we are delighted to offer the chance for you to stay in Carlisle Castle for the Friday night before the start of the event. The B&B accommodation is in the form of a very basic but perfectly functional mixed-sex army cadet dormitory housed in the garrison within the castle walls. The beds are bunkbeds for which you will need to bring a sleeping bag. Facilities include showers, toilets & a bar while breakfast will include hot drinks, a bacon roll & cereal. These can booked for £30 per person by logging into your account here. This is a subsidised price from the organisers that is paid directly to the Army for use of the Dorm room.
Overnight Camp, Vindolanda – For those who have chosen the 2 day option, Vindolanda is your finish point for the end of Day 1 where you have the option to camp onsite. This is free and open to both you and your supporters. The camping is not an official campsite but we will be wheeling out all the facilities you’ll need such as toilets, hot showers & catering as well as our legendary bar tent, where you can relax and recuperate ready for Sunday’s push to Newcastle Gateshead.
Given this is a popular tourist spot, there is a whole host of accommodation options at the start, the finish and around the overnight camp at Vindolanda. If you are not tempted by our free camping offer, here are just few websites which may help you on your search for a place for you and your supporters to stay within Wall Country:
Hadrian’s Wall Heritage http://www.hadrians-wall.org/
Visit Cumbria http://www.visitcumbria.com/
Visit Carlisle http://www.visitcumbria.com/car/carlisle.htm
Visit Northumberland http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/
Visit Newcastle Gateshead http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/
Northumberland National Park http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/visiting/wheretostay.htm
Along the Wall Corridor we are finding some cracking places to stay. You might consider these for your followers or for future holidays...;
Bleatarn Farm Camping and Caravan Site:
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=11095
Sandysike Bunkhouse and Camping: http://nationaltrail.co.uk/hadrianswall/site.asp?PageId=56&SiteId=71&c=31
