On a July evening in Inverness at the end of my North Coast 500 trip, I bumped into an acquaintance I’d met only a couple of weeks prior in an Edinburgh hostel. By the end of the night and a few pints later, we’d decided to hike the 2,000-year-old, 84-mile Hadrian’s Wall Trail together. Considering I’d not “gone hiking” much before, my lack of experience meant I had to hastily build up my arsenal of gear and equipment in the month before we left. So, if you too are in desperate need of a Hadrian’s Wall Path packing list (particularly if you are inclined to dress feminine!) then I’m here to help.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind with a multi-day hike packing list. These are the number of days, the season/weather, your accommodation and whether you will be carrying your gear or not. It’s popular for trekkers hiking Hadrian’s Wall to hire transportation to move their backpacks to their next accommodation every morning, but I carried mine.
I absolutely loved the Hadrian’s Wall hike and I wouldn’t change much about what I did and didn’t pack. But I did learn a couple of lessons the hard way so you don’t have to!
So, this is my ultimate multi-day hike checklist for the Hadrian’s Wall Path with different recommendations for the weather. Though you can’t really “plan” for the weather. The hike is in Northern England, after all. As a native Cumbrian, I know what I’m talking about.
My Hadrian’s Wall Path Packing List for Women (and Everyone Else!)
Backpack
- Osprey Kyte 36L with built-in rain cover
- Eastpak bumbag
If you’re going to pack gear, then you need a bag to pack things in! Most people walk approx. 14 miles for six days to complete the walk, which is what I did. I opted for the Osprey Kyte 36L backpack and I’m SO glad I did. It’s the perfect size for this trip, has all the right pockets, and it’s a fully adjustable female backpack so it fit me well.
I want to hike the Camino de Santiago someday so I wanted to invest in a backpack that would work for that trip, too. I think I made the right call.
When it comes to backpack weight, the rule of thumb is to not carry more than 10% of your body weight on your back when you are hiking. For me, that’s around 6.1kg and my (packed) backpack weighed this without food and water. Luckily, it didn’t feel too heavy for me.
I stayed in hotels and pubs, so I didn’t need to pack camping gear.
My old Eastpak bumbag (fanny pack to Americans and waist belt to Gen Zs!) was also spot on. I put my purse and other essentials in here and stored it in the top compartment of my backpack so I could quickly get it out to pay for hotel rooms (and beer!) without even having to take my backpack off.
Footwear
- Salomon Women’s Quest Prime GTX Waterproof Walking Hiking Boots
- Teva Hurricane Sandals
- 2x Smartwool Cushioned Crew Socks
- 1x Smartwool Zero Cushion Crew Socks
I bought both pairs of shoes featured on this Hadrian’s Wall Path packing list right before the trip. In my opinion, you need fully waterproof hiking boots for this trip, so I invested in a pair of Salomon Waterproof hiking boots. This is the north of England we’re talking about. The long grass, loose rocks, puddles, and bogs make them a necessity in all seasons. Believe me, I hiked in a 25°C heatwave and I’m very glad I had them.
For my non-hiking shoes, I chose black Teva Hurricane hiking sandals. I used them as evening shoes to give my feet a break from the boots but I could also walk in them if, for whatever reason, my hiking shoes killed my feet. Flip-flops would be a lighter/cheaper alternative. To wear with the sandals, I packed my black zero-cushion Smartwool socks because who said the socks-and-sandals look isn’t sexy as hell?
For hiking, I wore Smartwool full cushioned crew socks. Smartwool makes its stuff out of merino wool which is one of the best fabrics for hiking clothes. I kid you not, I only packed two pairs and they only started to smell a little on Day Five. Wear full-cushioned hiking socks in colder weather and light-cushioned socks in the summer months. I only had full cushioned socks and I think this is why I suffered from a few blisters (too much moisture).
Clothing
- North Face Packable Thermoball Hoodie
- North Face Packable GORE-TEX Dryzzle Jacket
- Waterproof Pants
- North Face Fleece
- Hiking Pants / Leggings
- 2x Icebreaker Merino Wool Hiking T-Shirts
- 1x Icebreaker Merino Wool Long-Sleeved Hiking Top
- Sweaty Betty Sports Bra
- Regular Bra
- 3-5x Pairs of Microfibre Underwear
- 1x Sleep/Lounge Pants
- 1x Merino Wool Beanie and/or Cap
- …And two stuff sacks to organise everything in!
I hiked during the hottest temperatures you could possibly get in North England and it still rained on a couple of the days. So, I packed everything on this list except my North Face Thermoball Hoodie jacket and Icebreaker long-sleeved hiking top. In hindsight, I didn’t need to pack my waterproof over-trousers or my merino wool beanie and I suggest you don’t during warm weather, either.
But I would have needed all four of these items if I hiked in the shoulder months, April or October.
Whilst hiking, I wore the same black Icebreaker merino wool t-shirt every single day along with my Sweaty Betty leggings and Sweaty Betty sports bra. I packed H&M microfibre underwear that I washed in the sink of one of our hotels and put on the radiator to dry overnight. I wore my North Face fleece during the cold mornings and evenings and my North Face waterproof jacket during the rainy spells. Both perfect.
During the evenings, I still wore an Icebreaker merino wool t-shirt because I knew I wasn’t going to be doing laundry and didn’t want it to smell. I wore a regular bra and some Fat Face patterned trousers when out to dinner and as pyjamas, too.
I honestly wouldn’t change anything about my clothes. But I do wish I’d packed a cap because you are quite exposed to the sun when walking Hadrian’s Wall Path. Most of the time you are walking through fields, not forests.
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Face Wash
- Body Wash & Loofah
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Razor & Coconut Oil
- Face Cream (with SPF)
- Lip Balm
- Brush
- Personal Vitamins & Medication
I think this list of toiletries is pretty self-explanatory. If you are staying in hotels, they will probably provide shampoo and shower gel in most instances. You could also forgo a razor, but you will need face cream with SPF no matter the season because your skin will take a battering from the elements. And your lips might get dry without lip balm.
In the summer, you will need SPF 30 sun cream and maybe insect repellent, too. Since I hiked in September 2021, I also packed lateral flow tests.
Leave your make-up at home and give your skin a break.
Read next: Hadrian’s Wall Accommodation Guide: B&Bs, Bunkhouses and Campsites
First Aid Kit / Medical Supplies
- Heaps of Plasters
- Medical Tape
- Ibuprofen / Paracetamol
- Imodium
- Hand Sanitiser / Wipes / Tissues
- Anti-Inflammatory Gel
I’ve not included a lot of first aid supplies on this Hadrian’s Wall path packing list because I don’t think you need them. As long as you consider your feet and your muscles, you’ll be fine. But keep in mind you won’t pass a lot of pharmacies or shops along the way either.
I suggest packing sh*t tonne of plasters/band-aids and anti-inflammatory gel to rub on your muscles every night. I also used it as a foot moisturiser (my hiking pal who is far more experienced than me brought cream!) because your feet will get so dry and you need to moisturise them.
Food and Water
- CamelBak Chute 750ML Water Bottle
- Platypus Hoser Hydration System 2L
- Trekking Snacks
You really can’t forget about water and food when you’re hiking Hadrian’s Wall. You need to carry your entire day’s water supply with you because fill-up places are irregular. I’m SO SO glad I bought this Platypus Hoser Hydration System 2L before my trek, especially considering the surprise heatwave. It meant I could pop it in my backpack’s water bladder slot and take a slurp whenever I got thirsty.
My old CamelBak Chute 750ML was also a necessity to make up my daily water intake and its reflective surface meant the water stayed the same temperature throughout the day. Genius!
In terms of food, I really recommend choosing accommodation that offers big, hearty cooked breakfasts and pub dinners. Even my hiking buddy, who doesn’t usually eat breakfast, said eating a big breakfast made all the difference. That way, you only need to pack lunch and snacks every day. In hindsight, I probably could have planned food better. If I were to do the walk again, I’d bring lots of unmeltable protein and cereal bars, nuts, dried fruit, and anything small and high calorie.
Read next: Hadrian’s Wall Walk: Essential Tips You Need to Know Before You Go
Miscellaneous
- Trailblazer Hadrian’s Wall Path Guide Book
- Hadrian’s Wall Passport
- Luggage Lock
- 1x Ziploc with Toilet Paper (& Extra Ziploc Bags)
- Camping Cutlery
- Purse / Wallet
- House Keys
- Phone & Charger
- Glasses & Case
- Headphones
- Portable Battery Pack
- Notebook & Pen
- Book
- Eye Mask
- Ear Plugs
If there’s one thing you take from this Hadrian’s Wall packing list, make it this. Buy the Trailblazer Hadrian’s Wall Path Guide Book and read it cover to cover. The author has hiked Hadrian’s Wall a bazillion times and he knows way more than I do. I also bought me and my friend Hadrian’s Wall Passports because there are stamping stations along the wall where you can stamp your little booklet as evidence you walked the wall.
It’s also possible that I bought a Hadrian’s Wall backpack patch that I sewed on after I got home. Maybe.
I needed and used everything on this list and don’t feel like I should have packed anything else. The extra Ziploc bags were great for storing loose food items and we used my camping cutlery for pot noodles and mug pasta one night. I also brought face masks because I walked the wall in September 2021 during the pandemic.
Optional Extras
- Swimsuit
- Travel Towel
- Shewee & Bag
- Travel Washing Line
- Collapsible Hiking Poles
- Water-Resistant Gloves
- Sunglasses
- Buff
- Flask
- Torch or Head Torch
- Photography Equipment
These are some non-essential extras that you might want to consider packing. If you’re walking in the warmer months, you will need sunglasses and a swimsuit if you like wild swimming and fancy a dip in the Tyne! And if you’re hiking in the colder months, consider bringing a buff and a pair of water-resistant gloves.
You will only need a travel towel if you plan on wild swimming or staying in hostels. I bought a Shewee to use when nature calls (and practised extensively with it!) as there are basically zero toilets on the walk but I couldn’t be bothered using it in the end. I didn’t use hiking poles, but if you want to then I recommend collapsible hiking poles so you can store them easily travelling to and from the wall path.
Though it’s a beautiful walk, leave the photography equipment at home. I usually never travel without my Canon but it was liberating not to a) lug it around and b) worry about breaking/losing my expensive camera. If you are walking the path alone and want to take photos of yourself, a small and lightweight Joby GorillaPod tripod will do the trick.
And that’s my essential Hadrian’s Wall Path packing list for women – but for everyone else too! Have you hiked Hadrian’s Wall or are you planning to? Let me know in the comments below!
Read next: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Locations in England
