This is a new and developing part of the website and will be driven by the nature of the questions that we receive over time.

Click on the question most appropriate to your enquiry to find the answer. The questions are listed alphabetically.

If the question is not listed we will be delighted to receive you question by e-mail. If this question is likely to be asked by others it will be added to the list below.

QUESTIONS
start from 10

A	What ACCOMMODATION provision is there along the length of the route?
D	Are DOGS allowed or suitable for the Way?
F	What level of FITNESS is required?
G	Are there any GUIDE BOOKS relevant to the route?
L	What is the LENGTH of the route?
M	What MAPS are available for navigation the route?
	Are MOUTAIN BIKES suitable for the route?
T	What is the TRANSPORT provision at either end of the Way?
W	Is the route WAYMARKED?

ANSWERS

ACCOMMODATION
The way the website has split up the walking route has been on two basis, the first to balance the distances as best possible and to try to reach appropriate points for overnight accommodation.

Being a walk that traverses over remote countryside this latter requirement has been more difficult to achieve in a few points. At the central point of Hadrian's Wall and at Crailinghall (Cappuck) there is a need to walk from the route line or arrange for transportation to accommodation. This is not a difficulty if planned ahead of the event and many service providers will be pleased to offer pick up and return drop off.

For details on the accommodation providers who are advertising their hostels, B&B, guest house or hotel provision link to our Services for Walkers section. Alternatively you may want to use the services of a booking agent.

DOGS
We are only aware of one sections where dogs are not permitted. This is on a short section between Newtown St Boswells and Bowden on the section from Crailinghall to Melrose. There is a short road alternative which overcomes this problem. In other open areas dogs are permitted under close supervision, but we would point out that for very large parts of the Way the route is through fields, moorland and hills where livestock are prevalent. At many boundaries and stiles there are notices to ask owners to put their dog on the lead. We would ask all dog owners to recognise the responsibility of controlling their animal and especially at times of lambing and calfing.

It is also worth pointing out that on certain section of the Way there are some very high and frequent stiles. These will require the owner to carry the dog across. Our experience on the section between Hedden-on-the-Wall and Housesteads, in particular, was that the physical effort of the frequent stiles is significant even without the challenge of a dog to lift.

Before planning a walk with your dog you need also check on the availability of overnight accommodation where dogs are accepted.

FITNESS
This route is varied in the demands dependent on the route option chosen and where you are on the route. The walking is relatively easy on the following section:

• Wallsend to Hedden-on-the-Wall
• Hedden-on-the-Wall to Chollerford
• Bowness on Solway to Carlisle
• Carlisle to Walton or Banks

The route is physically most demanding on the following sections:

• Banks to Steel Rigg and Housesteads
• Byrness to Crailinghall

The former is related to the frequent very steep but short ascents and descents as the route climbs along the Crag edge. The latter is the most demanding due to the height of the hills climbed and the fact that this section is also the longest. (Visit the lead page for each of the options and see an elevation profile for the Way.
There is also on these two sections points where the use of a hand to steady you across the rock inclines is needed.

The two principal options are not something that should be attempted by walkers who have not been training or used to several days continual walking, but it should not be a restriction on the basic of age.

GUIDE BOOKS
The Roman Heritage Way is made up of linked walking routes. Of the four elements three have official guide books which can be purchased prior to departure. This would however be in our view somewhat unnecessary as in two guides , namely the Pennine Way and the St Cuthbert's Way only a very small percentage of the route will be walked. This still leaves a section on Dere Street from the Scottish English Border to close to the Teviot River without a guide book.

It is the intention of I-Net Support to review the need and the practicality of producing an Official Guide with accompanying maps, but at present this decision has not been made. Watch this space for developments.

LENGTH
The complete length of the longest option is 165Km / 103 miles. The seven sections are not evenly split resulting in the shortest being 16.3Km / 10.2 miles and the longest 25.5Km / 16 miles.
The shortest option is 135Km / 84 miles with the section being fairly evenly balanced. For some this is a 6 day walk but there are opportunities to reduce the number of days if desired.
For detail on all section link to Walking Distances.

MAPS
The outline on the website is not sufficient in terms of navigation along the route. There are either O/S maps that can be used or it is possible to use guide books with attached maps for all the sections in England and a part of the final walk into Melrose.

On the section along Dere Street we advise the walker to carry O/S Landranger Maps these being Nos. 74 & 80. For a complete set of map numbers and guide book details link to the Maps Section.

MOUNTAIN BIKES
This Way is not designed for the use of bikes.

There are certain sections where Bikes can be seen and are welcomed by the landowner, but many more where the use of bikes is not welcome. In addition parts of the route are certainly not safe for the mountain bike based on narrow, steep and sometimes very rough ground.

For some for the Way there is dual uses or an associated cycle route adjacent, diverting off the Way onto minor roads. This happens principally on the sections on the Hadrian's Wall and the Tweed valley.

TRANSPORT
Access to all ends of the Way is available using public transport in the form of the Bus. This is however restricted to a few services per day on the Bowness on Solway start/end and dependent on day of the week and time of year the frequency may even be zero. Wallsend is easily accessed using the Metro system. Transport between the start and end points exists with at least one change in all cases, and here planning is need to resolve linking times and services. For fuller details on public transport link to the websites Transport Details.

Access to the intermediate points once the Way leave Hadrian's Wall is very limited, and at Crailinghall non-existant.

WAYMARKED
The total length of all the route options is waymarked with the exception of a section of approx 1 Km. The Waymarking makes use of four sets of waymarkers.

• Hadrian's Wall Path uses the acorn symbol and this is very extensive and well done.
• From Cuddy's Crag to a point about 3Km north of Chew Green the Pennine Way waymarkers are used and these are also mainly denoted by the Acorn symbol. We would however point out that the signs are much less frequent and we would strongly advise that a good map, compass and skill in map reading exists with one in the party.
• From the point at a gate approximately 3Km north of Chew Green the next section to the River Teviot is waymarket with Dere Street markers. As with the Pennine Way section we advise a map to support the direction finding between key junctions where the signs exist.
• From the River Teviot with the exception of a short section near to St Boswell's the waymarking is now that of St Cuthbert's Way, this is generally in the form of a cross symbol. This is easy to follow.
  

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