11.1 miles.

Outdoor Leisure Map No 43, - "Hadrian's Wall"

This walk can be adapted as you think fit on the day. Although we did an 11 mile circuit, you can shorten the walk in many ways.
The route for the walk is very straightforward, and requires a minimum of navigational skills.
The only point of caution is that the footpath alongside the Roman Wall has some surprisingly steep ascents and descents, which may not suit everybody.

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)

Start from the car park for Housesteads (NY79365 68416).
To the left of the Information Centre a footpath follows a track up to Housesteads Fort. The footpath continues North across grassy land to reach a waymarked gate at the Roman Wall itself. Turn left through the gate and follow the well signposted, and busy, footpath along the Roman Wall to the car park at Steel Rigg. This is about 4 miles in distance.
Continue West along the waymarked footpath to Windshields Crags, following the Roman Wall.
Past Turret 40B, there is a set of steps that cross the Wall, with a sign indicating "Access Land". Follow the footpath North East (waymarked in places) across Melkridge Common to the minor road at Well House.
Follow this road almost back to Steel Rigg. However, at NY 74918 67741 there is a farm track that takes you East North East to Peat Rigg and beyond.
Just before you reach Hotbank Farm, continue along the footpath in an East North East direction to King's Wicket.
Here the footpath rejoins the Roman Wall.
Turn tight, and follow the footpath alongside the Roman wall back to Housesteads Fort.