Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail and the World Heritage Site. A Case Study in Heritage Access Management

Abstract

The Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail opened in 2003 as part of a network of 15 National Trails in England and Wales. These are long distance routes for walking, cycling and horse riding through some of the finest landscapes in the country and the 84 mile Hadrian’s Wall Trail takes walkers along the riverside route in urban Tyneside, through farmland in Tynedale and the grazing upland section dominated by the Whin Sill escarpment before gradually descending to the rich pastures of Cumbria and finally the salt marsh of the Solway Estuary. The development of the Trail was contentious as archaeologists and other conservationists resisted its construction citing concerns that large numbers of walkers would have a damaging impact on the archaeological and natural value of the World Heritage Site. Although these concerns still persist, a robust management regime has protected the monument and natural environment while attracting large numbers of long distance walkers who provide a significant contribution to the local economy. The National Trail project has been cited as a world-leading example of sustainable heritage access management.