Hadrian’s Wall Trail in U.K.: Need Some Nutriton Advice

[Joshua Gilbert]

So, I’ve been off the boards for a while, launching a new career as a teacher, buying a house and supporting my wife as she launched her new career as a nurse. In celebration of all of these big changes, we are going on our first international trip since our honeymoon, setting out to hike the Hadrian’s Wall Trail in Northern England. We leave on Friday, and I have a couple of questions that perhaps some of our U.K. members can answer.

I’m aware that it is not a wilderness hike, but we will be tenting it about 4 of the 6 nights we are planning for the hike, and I’m interested in eating breakfast and lunch out of the rucksack. My wife and I are both good travelers (we eat what the locals eat and don’t get angry if there is no ranch dressing available) so if there is something that we should eat, I’d love to know what it is (i.e. a not to be missed local cheese)

Typically when backpacking, we’ll eat instant oatmeal with peanut butter, brown sugar, dried and dried fruit in it for breakfast, some form of trail mix while hiking and cheese, sausage dried fruit and crackers for lunch (and chocolate, of course) What are the equivalents to these that I can find in a typical British grocers?

Any other thoughts or info would be much appreciated.

[Stephen M]

Hadrians Wall is quiet a wild place as it runs across hilly moorland, it really is a beautiful area.

You will be able to get all the products you mention in any Scottish or English Stores.

The local cheeses are well worth trying, as is the local grass fed Lamb, pork and beef, beer and whiskey, oh and do go north in the highlands if you can.

My wife's Scottish and we spend a lot of time in the area.

[Joshua Gilbert]

Thanks Stephen, I was hoping you'd weigh in. Someone told me that Brits don't use peanut butter as much as we do, and the last time I was in England was in 1990, so I imagine things have changed.

Yes, you're right, the western parts of the wall seem pretty wild. I was thinking of heading north when we hit Solway Firth on the western end, just to say I entered Scotland.

You lived in Ireland as well, Yes? we're going over there after we finish the wall and spending a couple of days in Dublin and a couple of days in the Wicklow Mountains.Any good hiking suggestions?

[Stephen M]

Hi Joshua,

I am Irish myself, grew up in Cork on the southern end of the Island and lived their most of my life, the wife and I just spent 3.5 years in Belgium with our jobs, we are 6 months in to 3 year posting in Michigan.

Your right on peanut butter but you will be able to get it In a big a big shop alright.

Wicklow is really nice, I did a trip their in January.

I would nightly recommend you checking out LugnaquIlla

http://mountainviews.ie/summit/13/ you can get a bus right to the startof the hike if you don't have a rental car.

[David Thomas]

Mashed groundnuts or hazelnuts with chocolate? I think we Americans have acknowledge that Europeans have us beat in nut spreads, beer, cheese, etc.

Go local.

Except for Vegemite – rubbing the bread on the sole of your shoe tastes better.
And "pub food" – the beer's great but baloney on white bread gets tiresome quickly.
And anything they've boiled over three hours.

[Stephen M]

Hi David,

I would say UK Pub food is normally very good, it obviously depends on the pub.

I find Pub food in Michigan to be only OK, I do miss grass fed beef and lamb.

[Joshua Gilbert]

I love nutella as much as the next guy, but I can't imagine it in oatmeal, well I can, I just don't think it's a good idea. It seems like quite a few pubs on the trail cater to Trekkers and have decent food (at least according to my guidebook)

I'm always up for local eats, any local dishes that are a must try ( I love pasties, but those are Cornish) anything like that?

[Stephen M]

You wil get Cornish pasties all over the Uk, they are really nice. Defintley try out Haggis and a fish supper :-).

[Michael Cockrell]

Yes, that stuffed stomach is great!

I cycled all over England, the Plowman's lunch was very good, and the meat pies "pasties" also good.

[Joshua Gilbert]

Thanks gentlmen, got my pack sorted, 20 lbs at the start, and I'll be headed for the airport in the morning, be gone for three and a half weeks. I'll be sure to write up a trip report. I'm very excited.

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