Borderlands Partnership Approves £5.7m Funding to Reinvigorate Hadrian’s Wall Through A Major Transformation
The Borderlands Partnership Board has approved £5.714 million in funding from the UK Government for Cumberland Council and Northumberland County Council to transform visitor infrastructure across the World Heritage Site through unified wayfinding, physical and digital infrastructure improvements to bring the destination to life for local communities and a growing and diverse audience of national and international visitors.
Spanning from Heddon-on-the-Wall to Ravenglass, the two linked projects, as part of the Hadrian’s Wall Investment Programme, form one continuous visitor experience designed to unlock the economic and cultural potential of Hadrian’s Wall. The projects will strengthen key gateways, enhance signage and improve connectivity – creating a more accessible and engaging experience for visitors and local communities.
By modernising visitor access across a 33-mile stretch in Northumberland, the Hadrian’s Wall Visitor Exploration project will integrate new physical and digital information hubs across 42 locations. To expand active travel routes, the Northumberland investment will also support the development of a new 1.94 km cycle route alongside the Military Road which connects the Wall directly to Reivers Trails network, Kielder Water and Forest Park, NCN 68 Pennine Cycleway and the Haltwhistle active travel hub.
The Discover Hadrian’s Wall West project will introduce 68 heritage themed interpretation points and physical and digital wayfinding across 10 trail locations, bringing part of the invisible heritage to life through virtual and augmented reality animation via an app with a bird’s-eye wayfinding interactive map.
Ultimately, the overall investment will unlock the economic potential of rural communities along the Wall, attracting a greater number of visitors who will support local businesses and services.
Cllr Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “Securing this investment is a landmark moment for Northumberland and a prime example of how the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal delivers targeted economic impact for our rural communities. By directly connecting Hadrian’s Wall to Kielder Forest, Haltwhistle and our wider active networks, we are removing barriers for visitors and modernising one of the UK’s most iconic historic assets.
“This strategic investment ensures we aren’t just preserving Roman heritage, but we’re building a world class, eco-friendly destination that encourages longer stays, boosts local businesses and drives sustainable growth for generations to come.”
Cllr Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council, added: “In the Cumberland area, this project will highlight Roman Cumbria and the incredible wealth of heritage assets along the west of the Wall and the Cumbria Coast. This funding allows us to attract new audiences, ensure a unified brand identity across the entire Wall and encourage visitors to stay longer and explore everything there is to offer.”
Lady Jane Gibson OBE, Chair Hadrian’s Wall WHS Partnership Board, said: “The investment in the two linked projects will be transformational for Hadrian’s Wall and how we can better serve communities and visitors. The World Heritage Site in some areas can be hidden in the landscape so the stories that the Wall can tell are waiting to be told. These two projects are fundamental to our long-term plans to ensure Hadrian’s Wall can benefit everybody.”
The Hadrian’s Wall Visitor Exploration project is underway and set to run until December 2027, while the Discover Hadrian’s Wall West project is set to begin late 2026, with an estimated end date of January 2028. Northumberland County Council and Cumberland Council have invested £379,485 to date to progress early planning and design – with match funding sought from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Cumberland project.
Together, the programme aims to attract an additional 780,000 visitors annually, generate £86.1 million in visitor spend and £50.4 million in GVA by year 10, while supporting communities and sustainable economic growth across the Borderlands region.
