The trail passes through and close to countless towns and villages so you should be able to keep a reasonably flexible schedule and just book accommodation a day or 2 in advance rather than having a fixed itinerary. If you want to book everything ahead of time then the relatively mellow nature of the terrain on this hike make it possible in bad weather, but it can be pretty unpleasant up on the moors when the raining is falling and the wind is blowing! Having the option to adjust your schedule when the often-bad northern weather causes problems is highly recommended.

When the sun is shining there can't be many more scenic parts of England than the wilder parts of this hike, and the fact that it follows such a famous landmark only adds to the ambience. Before even reaching the wall you'll pass through the quayside area of Newcastle Upon Tyne, a part of the city which was once an industrial eyesore and is now - thanks to significant investment - one of the most attractive sections of waterfront real estate in Britain.

As you progress along the trail it gets progressively wilder all the way to the coast (except for the brief foray into Carlisle town centre) and it ends at the little seafront village of Bowness-on-Solway. Spending a day after your hike finishes exploring the local viewpoints over the Solway Firth sandbanks and mudflats is a great way to relax and re-enter the real world!