US drivers along Hadrian's Wall
Still trying to figure out a day trip to Hadrian's Wall. If we arrive in Newcastle upon Tyne and rent a car-how much difficulty are we to expect to drive out of NuT and along the wall to,say, Housesteads and back? Assuming we are arriving after and returning before any rush hour? We're experienced drivers, just not with the Bristish other side of road idea.
As an ancillary question, is there any luggage storage at Housesteads?
Thanks.
Jeff
Lewisburg, PA USA 9/29/12
Send Private Message
I'm a little confused by your plan. You want to rent a car in Newcastle and drive to Housesteads. Why would you need luggage storage in Housesteads if it's just a day trip, and Housesteads is your turnaround point?
In July, we drove from Newcastle to Steel Rigg and Vindolanda, both near Housesteads. Make sure you have good directions, because my TomTom was unable to get us closer than Hexam. I ended up parking at Hexam church and getting really good directions from the woman working the gift shop. Once we got to the B road running along the Wall, we found our way easily. We did give up on the idea of walking along the Wall due to wet conditions and not wanting to wear ourselves out, but we enjoyed Vindolanda very much, especially the museum and the chat we had with the archaeologist who was conducting the dig onsite.
The drive itself was no problem once we figured out where we were going, but driving on the left side didn't bother me the whole time in Britain -- the narrow roads did, especially since we had a much bigger car than I wanted (only automatic on the lot). After we went through Vindolanda, we had a few hour drive to Edinburgh.
Thanks, to all. Nancy, my question was kind of inclusive. If I rent a car, I won't need a left luggage service, but if I take public transportation in stead, then i will. i just figured people who read and answered about HW might know both.
Kathy, that sounds good. How about driving in Newcastle itself?
I was following your previous thread trying to think how you could visit the Wall in your timeframe, the buses just won't work from/to Newcastle. So renting a car would make sense. I haven't driven in Newcastle but it should be no harder than any other city. I don't know where the car rental places are, the Northern Rail website isn't much help, but Westgate Road takes off near the station and it's a straight shot (with some roundabouts, LOOK RIGHT KEEP LEFT) onto the A69 freeway west (SLOWER TRAFFIC LEFT). If you can get GPS with the car it will be a lot easier to find the Wall sights along the back roads. I'd suggest Housesteads and Vindolanda, one a scenic section of the Wall that you can walk along for awhile if time and weather allow, the other an excavated Roman town with an excellent museum (and lunch), close together and not far from Newcastle via motorway. The back roads can be very narrow and slower than you might think. If your scheduole allows you could avoid the hardest driving by leaving the car (and luggage) at Hexham where the AD122 bus runs more often than from Newcastle. No left luggage in either Vindolanda or Housesteads that I recall, but you won't need it with the car. Simplest would be just to drive, with a GPS and/or good map, on your own schedule. The Wall is worth a detour for sure.
You might post this question on TripAdvisor Forum. It looks like Hertz and Budget aren't too far from the railway station. Google Car Hire near Railway Station Newcastle upon Tyne you'll see some options.
Depending on where you are coming from, but you could also take the train to Carlisle and pick up a car there.
Pam
Jeff, we stayed on the main highway outside of Newcastle, so I did not get any experience driving in that city. I did drive on the ring road around York, as well as into the residential part of Edinburgh, and didn't have any problems. This was my first time abroad, and driving was not a problem at all!
There is a main road (A69, perhaps?) that more or less runs parallel to the Wall. (The Hadrian's Wall bus follows it.) And there is a parking lot at Housesteads, so you should be able to drive straight there from Newcastle.
The road is pretty rural once you get out of Newcastle, so you'll be fine driving.
Can you rent your car on the outskirts of Newcastle? Or just outside the city?
Have fun!