Choose the Great Glen Way for dramatic Highland scenery and Loch Ness over 117 km and 5–7 days. Choose Hadrian's Wall Path for Roman history across northern England over 135 km and 6–8 days. Both are easy-to-moderate, well-supported trails; the Great Glen is slightly shorter and wilder, the Wall is richer in heritage.
These two are Britain's best-loved beginner-friendly long-distance trails, and hikers often weigh one against the other for a first multi-day walk. Both are low-level, well-waymarked and finishable in a week with indoor accommodation each night. The choice comes down to scenery and theme: Highland lochs versus Roman frontier. This comparison lays out the numbers. See the full guides for the Great Glen Way and the Hadrian's Wall Path.
Great Glen Way vs Hadrian's Wall Path: the numbers
| Factor | Great Glen Way | Hadrian's Wall Path |
|---|---|---|
| Distance | 117 km | 135 km |
| Duration | 5–7 days | 6–8 days |
| Total ascent | ~1,700 m | ~2,400 m |
| Route | Fort William–Inverness | Wallsend–Bowness |
| Scenery | Lochs, glens, canal | Roman wall, farmland |
| Difficulty | Easy–moderate | Easy–moderate |
| Best months | May, September | May–September |
Which is more scenic?
This is the heart of the choice. The Great Glen Way delivers classic Highland drama — the long mirror of Loch Ness, forested glens and mountain backdrops, with optional high-level routes for panoramic views. Hadrian's Wall Path trades wilderness for history, following the best-preserved Roman frontier in Europe past forts, milecastles and the famous crag-top section near Steel Rigg. The Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with conservation managed by the English Heritage.
Which is harder?
Both are easy-to-moderate, but Hadrian's Wall Path is marginally tougher: it is longer at 135 km and gains more total ascent (around 2,400 m versus 1,700 m), with the undulating central crags adding real up-and-down. The Great Glen Way's low-level towpaths keep it gentler, which is why we rate it a slightly easier first trail in our Great Glen Way difficulty guide and Hadrian's Wall difficulty guide.
Does the gear differ?
Barely. Both use indoor accommodation, so a 35–45 L pack like the Fjallraven Abisko Hike 35 covers either trail, with full waterproofs essential on both. Wild campers on the Great Glen (legal under Scottish access rights, unlike most of the English route) need a larger Osprey Atmos AG 65 or a waterproof Hyperlite 2400 Windrider. Full kit is in our Great Glen Way packing list.
Which should you choose?
- Choose the Great Glen Way if you want Highland scenery, Loch Ness, the option to wild camp, and a slightly easier, shorter route.
- Choose Hadrian's Wall Path if you want Roman history, a UNESCO World Heritage walk, and easier transport links across northern England.
Both peak from May to September. National Trail conditions for Hadrian's Wall are published by the National Trails service, and Scottish access advice by NatureScot. For wider British options, see our best hikes in the Scottish Highlands guide and best long-distance hikes in England.
Which trail is easier to reach and resupply?
Both trails are well served, but they suit different starting points. Hadrian's Wall Path runs coast to coast across northern England between Wallsend near Newcastle and Bowness-on-Solway, with Newcastle and Carlisle providing major rail links at each end and a seasonal bus shadowing the route in summer. The Great Glen Way relies on the West Highland Line to Fort William and Inverness's rail and coach hub, which is straightforward but a longer journey for most international visitors arriving via Glasgow or Edinburgh.
For resupply, both pass through regular towns. Hadrian's Wall threads villages and the cities at each end, while the Great Glen Way is anchored by Fort William, Fort Augustus and Inverness. Accommodation on both runs roughly GBP 40-80 a night, and both can be walked with a baggage-transfer service so you carry only a daypack. The key difference is wild camping: legal under access rights on the Great Glen, but generally not permitted along Hadrian's Wall without landowner consent.
If transport simplicity from southern Britain matters most, Hadrian's Wall edges it; for a wilder finish and the freedom to wild camp, the Great Glen Way wins. The full stage logistics are in our Great Glen Way route guide and Hadrian's Wall Path guide, with seasonal timing in the Great Glen Way season guide.
Which trail has the better history and sights?
Hadrian's Wall Path is the clear winner for heritage. It follows the best-preserved Roman frontier in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, passing forts like Housesteads and Vindolanda, milecastles, temples and the dramatic crag-top wall near Steel Rigg. Walking it is effectively a 135 km journey through nearly 2,000 years of history, with museums and excavated sites strung along the route.
The Great Glen Way trades human history for natural drama. Its highlights are the 37 km length of Loch Ness, the Caledonian Canal's Victorian engineering and locks, the forested glens and the mountain backdrops, plus the ruins of Urquhart Castle above the loch. It is a scenery-led walk where the landscape, not the past, is the star.
Your choice comes down to what you want to remember: Roman forts and frontier history, or Highland lochs and glens. Both are superb in their own register, and our best hikes in the Scottish Highlands guide sets the Great Glen in context, while the Great Glen Way and Hadrian's Wall Path guides detail the sights stage by stage.
For many hikers the honest answer is to walk both, in either order, as a pair of complementary British classics over two seasons. They are similar enough in length and difficulty to suit the same fitness level, yet different enough in character, Highland wilderness against Roman history, that neither feels like a repeat of the other. If you can only choose one for 2026, let the deciding factor be what excites you more on the page: standing on a crag where Roman legionaries once patrolled, or watching the light move down the 37 km length of Loch Ness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Great Glen Way or Hadrian's Wall Path harder?
Hadrian's Wall Path is slightly harder. It is longer at 135 km versus 117 km and gains more total ascent, around 2,400 m against 1,700 m, with undulating central crags. The Great Glen Way's low-level towpaths make it the gentler of the two.
Which trail is better for a first long-distance walk?
Both are excellent first trails, but the Great Glen Way is marginally easier and shorter, making it ideal for beginners. Hadrian's Wall Path suits those wanting a history-rich walk with easy transport links and slightly more climbing.
Can you wild camp on either trail?
You can wild camp responsibly along the Great Glen Way under Scotland's access rights. On Hadrian's Wall Path in England wild camping is not generally permitted without landowner permission, so most hikers use B&Bs and campsites.
Which trail has better scenery?
It depends on taste. The Great Glen Way offers Highland lochs, glens and Loch Ness, while Hadrian's Wall Path follows a UNESCO World Heritage Roman frontier with forts and crag-top views. One is wilderness, the other is history.
When is the best time to walk these trails?
Both peak from May to September. May and September offer the best balance of long days, lower rainfall and fewer midges on the Great Glen, while Hadrian's Wall is comfortable across the whole summer season.
