Hadrians Wall, a regional treasure

Date: 2004-05-24, Publication: The Journal

In its first year of operation the Hadrian's Wall national trail has already paid back half of the cost of setting up the route.

Monday sees the first anniversary of the launch of the trail, which in its debut year was tackled by more than 3,500 long distance walkers who contributed an estimated £3m to the local economies along the way.

This does not include spending by around 250,000 people who used the trail as either day or short stay visitors.

The Countryside Agency invested £6m in setting up the 84-mile trail, with half of that coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

"The £3m is a tremendous payback and all the indications are that it is going to be as busy this year. Bookings are very healthy," said trail officer David McGlade.

Lessons have been learned from the first year which should result in a better service for walkers this time round.

A set of 18 postcards of sights along the route has been commissioned from Newcastle photographer Graeme Peacock.

The hope is that as they are sent by walkers to friends and family they will spread the word internationally about the world heritage site.

And David has written The Essential Guide to Hadrian's Wall Path in response to the experiences of walkers.

The 70-page guide lists everything walkers may need, from the location of water taps and cash machines to campsites, hostels, pharmacies, and the opening hours of shops, cafes and pubs, public transport links and distance calculators.

Projects for the upkeep of the trail will benefit from £1 of each £3.50 copy of the book which is sold.

The guide also tells walkers where they can find "permissive" WCs in locations such as garages, pubs, village or church halls where owners will allow walkers to use the facilities.

"There is enormous goodwill towards the trail among local people," says David.

The guide is aimed at a new breed of walker which the path is attracting.

"These are people who are attempting a long distance trail for the first time and are not used to planning in such detail," says David.

Paul Austen, co-ordinator of the Hadrian's Wall world heritage site management plan, says: "The visitor's experience of even the most magical places can be marred if there is nowhere to get a cold drink on a hot day or it is difficult to find a hearty meal in the evening after a long day's walking the national trail and even worse if you cannot find a place to withdraw cash to pay for them."

The passport which walkers can have stamped at six locations along the route has also just been re-launched after being withdrawn at the end of October for the winter. The aim was to minimise damage to the trail from walking in what are the most vulnerable months for the route in weather terms.

David stresses that, although the passport was rested, the trail was never closed.

"It was an incentive for people to walk during the drier months and take the pressure off during winter."

But this year a winter passport will be on offer which will cover 20 of the 100 or so circular walks off the main trail.

The agency has published 45 of the circular walks.

"There is more to Hadrian's Wall country than the Wall itself," says David.

"The winter passport will give people the opportunity for an all-year round walking experience which will help boost the year-round local economy and promote Hadrian's Wall as a 12-month tourist destination."

The success was welcomed by Northumberland tourist chiefs.

A One NorthEast spokeswoman said: 'The trail has widened the appeal of Hadrian's Wall to a whole new audience and has been phenomenally successful.

'It has increased the number of people taking in its unique visitor experience and has been a major economic boost to the rural communities and businesses along the length of the Wall.'

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