For walkers embarking on Hadrian's Wall Path from the east, the journey begins at Segedunum—the "strong fort" that marked the Wall's eastern terminus at what is now Wallsend in North Tyneside. This is where your adventure starts, where 84 miles of Roman frontier stretches before you, and where you can gain an understanding of the Wall that will enrich every step of your journey westward. Segedunum is no mere starting line but a significant destination in its own right, offering the most complete picture of a Roman fort available anywhere on Hadrian's Wall.
The name Wallsend itself tells the story: this is literally where the Wall ended (or began, depending on your direction of travel). The Romans extended their barrier here to the banks of the Tyne, ensuring that the river crossing could not be outflanked. For nearly three centuries, Segedunum stood as the gateway to Roman Britain's northern frontier, and today its reconstructed remains and excellent museum provide the perfect introduction to your walking holiday.
The Fort Site
Segedunum is the only fort on Hadrian's Wall where the complete ground plan has been excavated and is displayed for visitors. This comprehensive exposure reveals the characteristic layout of a Roman auxiliary fort: the central headquarters building (principia) and commanding officer's house (praetorium) surrounded by barracks, granaries, a hospital, and workshops. Coloured gravels mark out different buildings, making it easy to understand how the garrison of six hundred infantrymen lived and worked.
The fort covers about four acres, placing it among the larger installations on the Wall. The presence of a hospital (valetudinarium) indicates Segedunum's importance as a supply and reinforcement base for the frontier. Soldiers arriving by sea from other provinces would disembark at South Shields across the river and pass through Segedunum before taking up positions further along the Wall.
Excavations have revealed the successive phases of the fort's development. Like most Wall forts, Segedunum was rebuilt and modified numerous times during its operational life, responding to changing military requirements and the accumulated wear of decades. The visible remains date largely from the later Roman period, though foundations from earlier phases survive beneath.
The Viewing Tower
Rising 35 metres above the site, Segedunum's distinctive viewing tower provides an unparalleled perspective on the fort layout and its relationship to the surrounding landscape. From the observation platform at the top (accessible by lift), you can see exactly how the Romans organised their military installation and understand how it functioned as an integrated whole.
The tower also offers views along the route of the Wall westward, though the urban landscape of modern Tyneside has long since obscured the ancient stones in most directions. Looking east, you can see the River Tyne—the natural barrier that formed the Wall's true eastern end—and understand why the Romans chose this location to anchor their frontier.
For photographers, the viewing tower offers excellent opportunities for images looking down on the excavated remains. Early morning light particularly suits the fort's layout, casting shadows that emphasise the building foundations. Even if you're not especially interested in photography, the aerial perspective from the tower transforms understanding of the site.
The Reconstructions
Segedunum features full-scale reconstructions that bring the Roman period to vivid life. Most impressive is the reconstructed bathhouse, built using Roman techniques and materials to show exactly what such a building would have looked like when new. Walking through its chambers—from the cold room through the progressively warmer spaces to the hot room with its hypocaust heating—gives a visceral sense of Roman military bathing culture impossible to gain from ruined foundations alone.
A reconstructed section of Hadrian's Wall itself stands on the site, built to full height and showing the walkway along the top that soldiers would have patrolled. Standing on this reconstructed Wall, looking out across what would have been barbarian territory, helps you understand both the scale of the original structure and the experience of those who garrisoned it.
These reconstructions are not mere fantasies but carefully researched interpretations based on archaeological evidence from Segedunum and other sites. They represent current scholarly understanding of how these structures appeared and functioned, providing valuable context for the genuine Roman remains you'll encounter throughout your walk.
The Museum
Segedunum's museum houses an outstanding collection of artefacts discovered during excavations of the fort and its surrounding area. The displays are organised thematically, exploring topics such as military life, religion, domestic arrangements, and trade. Through these objects, abstract concepts about Roman Britain become tangible and personal.
Highlights include military equipment—swords, armour fragments, and the small items soldiers carried daily. Religious objects reveal the various gods worshipped by the garrison: traditional Roman deities, eastern mystery cults, and indigenous British spirits syncretised with Roman forms. Personal items—hairpins, gaming pieces, jewellery—remind us that real people with hopes, fears, and daily concerns lived behind these ancient walls.
The museum also addresses the civilian community (vicus) that grew up outside the fort walls. Where soldiers served, merchants, craftsmen, and families followed. Archaeological evidence reveals shops, taverns, temples, and houses clustered near the fort gates. Understanding this civilian dimension adds depth to your appreciation of sites you'll encounter throughout your walk.
Starting Your Walk
For those beginning the Hadrian's Wall Path here, Segedunum offers an ideal starting point. The official trail begins at the statue of the emperor Hadrian near the museum entrance, from which waymarks guide you westward through Newcastle and beyond. Many walkers take time to explore the museum before setting off, building anticipation and context for the journey ahead.
The initial miles from Segedunum pass through urban Tyneside—a very different environment from the dramatic crags you'll encounter later. This urban section has its own interest, following the line of the Wall through industrial history and urban regeneration. The contrast between these opening miles and the wild country ahead makes the eventual arrival at open landscape all the more dramatic.
If you're walking with us using our baggage transfer service, you'll start your walk carrying only a light day pack. This makes the first day's relatively easy terrain ideal for warming up before the more challenging days ahead. Your main luggage will be waiting at your first night's accommodation, ready for you after you've completed the opening stage.
Practical Information
Segedunum is open daily throughout the year, with seasonal variations in opening hours. Admission is charged but is reasonable for the quality of experience offered. The museum, viewing tower, and reconstructions are all covered by a single ticket.
Getting to Segedunum is straightforward. Wallsend Metro station is a short walk from the site, providing quick and easy access from Newcastle city centre. Buses also serve the area, and there's car parking on site for those arriving by vehicle. For walkers arriving by train from elsewhere in Britain, the Metro provides a convenient connection from Newcastle Central Station.
Facilities include a café serving hot and cold refreshments, toilets, and a shop. The café makes a good spot for a final fortifying breakfast before setting off on your walk. The shop stocks books, maps, and gifts—including the official Hadrian's Wall Path guide if you haven't already acquired one.
Making the Most of Your Visit
We recommend arriving at Segedunum early enough to spend at least an hour exploring before starting your walk. The museum provides context that enhances your understanding of every subsequent site you'll encounter. The viewing tower perspective helps you visualise how forts functioned. The reconstructions demonstrate what the ruined remains along your route would have looked like when new.
For those particularly interested in Roman history, Segedunum merits a longer visit. An audio guide provides deeper insight into the site and its collections. Temporary exhibitions supplement the permanent displays. Staff are knowledgeable and happy to answer questions about both Segedunum and the Wall more generally.
If you're spending the night before your walk in Newcastle—as many of our guests do—consider visiting Segedunum the evening before you set off. This leaves your actual walking day clear for the journey ahead while ensuring you've absorbed the essential context. The Metro makes this evening visit entirely practical.
The Journey Ahead
Standing at Segedunum, 84 miles of Roman frontier stretches before you. From here you'll walk through the heart of Newcastle, past the site where the Wall crossed the Tyne, out through the suburbs and into open country. The landscape will change from urban to rural to dramatic as you progress westward, but the thread of Roman history connects every mile.
The forts and remains you'll encounter in the days ahead—Chesters, Housesteads, Vindolanda, Birdoswald—all share the essential patterns you first learn at Segedunum. The fort layout, the barrack blocks, the granaries and headquarters buildings: understanding them here makes recognising them elsewhere intuitive.
Your walk ends at Bowness-on-Solway, where the Wall met the western sea. Between here and there lies one of the great journeys in British walking—a crossing of the island that follows two-thousand-year-old footsteps through history and landscape. Segedunum is not just where it starts but where it makes sense.
Ready to begin? Explore our range of itineraries to find the walking holiday that suits you, or contact us to discuss your plans. We'll help you organise every detail so you can focus on the extraordinary experience ahead.
