Hadrian's Wall Path Day 7: Newtown to Carlisle

Sunday, 6th June 2021

Weather: 18⁰C, sunny
Distance: 15km
Time: 4h 22min (3h 35min walking time)

Average moving speed: 4.2km/h

Max elevation: 70m

Min elevation: 13m

Elevation gain: 119m

Today wasn't going to be a long day so we slept in and had a leisurely late breakfast. We bagged our packed lunch (£5 each) that our host delivered this morning and headed out when we were ready.

The path is pretty flat from now.

At Crosby-on-Eden we stop to admire the local church, St John's Church.

Lunch stop in front of Eden Grove, a Grade II listed house not far from the river Eden.

On arrival to Linstock a tower appears on the right-hand side. Linstock Castle it is called but it actually is a pele tower.

After walking for a while north of the river Eden, we enter Rickerby Park and finally cross the river at the Memorial Bridge (built in 1922) and enter Carlisle. Being a warm day, children and dogs play in the river below.

Here we leave the path and head to our accommodation for the next two days: Travelodge Carlisle Central (£60.98 for 2 nights, no breakfast). We are 1 hour earlier than the check-in time but hopeful that we can drop our bags and head to explore the city a bit lighter.

No such luck! There is no one at reception and it finally dawns on me why there was a £10 fee for an earlier check-in... Carrying heavy bags and with tired feet, we decide to lay down on the grass of the nearby Portland Square whilst we wait and I have an hour nap.

After the check-in is done we head out for a walk in the city and to visit Carlisle Castle.

Carlisle Castle

The oldest visible part  of the castle was built under Henry I in the 1120s and completed shortly after by David I of Scotland. It has been alternated between English and Scottish hands as a reminder that Carlisle is a frontier city.

Admission costs £11.30.

Carlisle Cathedral

Originally Norman but only two bays near the chancel are original. The rest was demolished following Scottish attacks in the wars of 1645 and 1652 and rebuilt afterwards.

Behind the cathedral a street called Paternoster Row. There is a pattern coming all the way from Newcastle...

Carlisle's main square (Market Square) with the Market Cross Monument (traditional 17th century columnar monument on circular steps marking a market square) and the old Guildhall building which today has the Tourist Information Centre and coffee shops and restaurant. The square is surrounded by shops and leads onto a main pedestrian street. 

Carlisle city centre would look much better if not for the bird droppings splattered on almost every single building and under every single tree. Filthy!

After a shower and a rest, we headed out looking for dinner. We settled at The Print Yard, where we had a delicious dinner and cocktails for £66.11.

After dinner we walked a bit more before retiring for the night. It was very quiet.

West Walls, the only remaining part of the medieval walls built in the latter half of the 12th century.

Citadel or Court Houses. The medieval citadel was almost destroyed by the Scots and the remains demolished in 1807. A new citadel as two oval towers was rebuilt in 1810 housing the Civil Courts in the East Tower and the Criminal Courts in the West Tower.