Walk in THE SUN

Britain’s national trails wind through some of the most beautiful scenery and fascinating historical places

- ZACHARY SWEENEY-LYNCH.

Spring is a truly glorious time of year in the British countryside. As the first green buds appear on trees, the tips of crocuses break through the hard ground, and lambs begin to take their first steps. With the weather warming up, it’s a wonderful time to be outside, so in honour of the changing seasons, we’ve selected four of our favourite spring National Trust walks…

Hadrian’s Wall

Northumberland

Distance: 5 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Stretching 80 breathtaking miles through the rugged Northumbrian landscape, Hadrian’s Wall is both a historic marvel and a fabulous spot for a springtime stroll. Start out at the Housesteads Visitor Centre, the site of a Roman fort, and follow the Sycamore Gap walk as it traces the path of the wall, meandering over the rolling hills and craggy ridges of North England. Hadrian’s Wall was built in 122 AD by the Roman Army, to defend the Empire’s northernmost border from attack, and once stretched from coast to coast. You don’t have to walk it all, of course, and this manageable hike takes in stunning views, and the sycamore tree that was once crowned the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year.

Housteads, a Victorian farmhouse in Hexham, is the perfect place to stay, as it’s just a short walk from the Roman fort itself.

Sleeps five for three nights from £415; nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/ housesteads-northumberland