Hadrian's Wall – Lanercost Priory loop from Irthington

Hadrian's Wall – Lanercost Priory loop from Irthington

Moderate

riders

Hadrian's Wall – Lanercost Priory loop from Irthington

02:02

45.2km

420m

Road cycling

Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 4, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

23.4 km

Slack Farm Trade Cafe

Highlight • Cafe

Top quality cheese, lovely proprietor and a friendly cat! Well worth the 200m detour

Tip by

28.5 km

Slack House Organic Farm Café and Organic Farm Shop

Highlight • Restaurant

Organic farm, café and accomodation.

Selling excellent organic cheese, milk and yoghurts - We found this the perfect little stop on our Hadrian's Cycleway mini-tour.

Tip by

29.5 km

Birdoswald Roman Fort is the site of the longest surviving stretch of Hadrian's Wall. Managed by English Heritage, there's plenty to discover with exhibitions and lovely walking trails in the surroundings too. After a ramble, you can put your feet up in the rustic cafe and enjoy a slice of cake with a hot drink.

Tip by

29.6 km

Hadrian's Wall

Highlight • Historical Site

Hadrian's Wall was a 117 km long defensive wall built from 122 AD under Emperor Hadrian as the northwestern border of the Roman Empire. The wall ran from the Tyne to the Solway Firth, its central section following the natural ridge of the Whin Sill, a hard dolerite geological formation. This location offered Roman troops a tactical advantage: high ground with wide visibility and natural defenses. The wall served to control movement, delay incursions, and demonstrate Roman power.
Here, next to Birdoswald Fort, you'll find the longest remaining section of the historic wall.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

32.9 km

Leahill Turret

Highlight • Monument

Along Lanercost Road near Banks in Cumbria, you'll find the well-preserved remains of Leahill Turret (51B), a Roman watchtower built around 122 AD as part of Hadrian's Wall. The tower was fully excavated and consolidated in 1958 and is still visible today to a height of approximately one meter.
Leahill Turret served as a staging post between Milecastles 51 and 52, providing Roman soldiers with a strategic vantage point over the northern border region. Inside, traces of a raised platform against the north wall and a later shelter structure against the south wall are visible, suggesting reuse in the 4th century.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

33.9 km

Banks Turret – Hadrian's Wall

Highlight • Monument

Banks East Turret, also known as Turret 52A, is one of the best-preserved watchtowers along the western section of Hadrian's Wall. Built around 122 AD on the orders of Emperor Hadrian, this tower was part of an ingenious network: two turrets stood between each milecastle, manned by a handful of soldiers who guarded the boundary. The tower is built of stone, even though the wall here was originally turf—a rare example of early Roman engineering. You'll find an impressive section of wall reaching 1.75 meters high at the tower itself.
The site offers panoramic views of the southern landscape, while the northern terrain is higher—a strategic yet surprising choice.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

36.6 km

Lanercost Priory

Highlight • Religious Site

This impressive Augustinian priory, founded around 1169, is just a stone's throw from Hadrian's Wall. Its ruins tell stories of kings, wars, and pilgrims. King Edward I stayed here in 1306 during his final campaign against the Scots, and Robert the Bruce later attacked the monastery.
The church ruins still stand tall, with a dramatic triple-arched structure.
Built partly with stones from Hadrian's Wall, they include Roman inscriptions.
Inside, you'll find the Lanercost Cross (1214) and the Lanercost Dossal, a work of art designed by William Morris.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

45.2 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

40.8 km

4.37 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

40.8 km