A £5.7 million funding package has been approved to transform visitor infrastructure along Hadrian’s Wall, including new heritage interpretation and digital experiences in Cumbria.
The Borderlands Partnership Board has approved £5.714 million of UK Government funding for Cumberland Council and Northumberland County Council.
The investment will fund two linked projects spanning from Heddon-on-the-Wall in Northumberland to Ravenglass in Cumbria, forming part of the wider Hadrian’s Wall Investment Programme.
Plans include new and improved signage, physical and digital visitor infrastructure and better connections between attractions and communities along the World Heritage Site.
In the west, the Discover Hadrian’s Wall West project will introduce 68 heritage-themed interpretation points as well as physical and digital wayfinding across 10 trail locations.
It will also use virtual and augmented reality animation through an app, alongside an interactive bird’s-eye map, to bring parts of Hadrian’s Wall’s less visible heritage to life.
Cumberland Council leader Cllr Mark Fryer said: “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.”
Across the border, the Hadrian’s Wall Visitor Exploration project will modernise visitor access across a 33-mile stretch of Northumberland, with new physical and digital information hubs at 42 locations.
The investment will also support the development of a 1.94km cycle route alongside the Military Road, connecting Hadrian’s Wall with the Reivers Trails network, Kielder Water and Forest Park, the NCN 68 Pennine Cycleway and the Haltwhistle active travel hub.
Northumberland County Council leader Cllr Glen Sanderson described the investment as a “landmark moment” and said the aim was to create a world-class, environmentally friendly destination which encouraged longer stays and supported local businesses.
Lady Jane Gibson OBE, chair of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site Partnership Board, said the two projects would be “transformational” for the attraction and surrounding communities.
She said: “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 Cumbria/Northumberland project is already under way and is expected to run until December 2027.
Discover Hadrian’s Wall West is due to begin in late 2026 and has an estimated completion date of January 2028.
Cumberland Council and Northumberland County Council and have invested £379,485 so far in early planning and design work, while match funding is being sought from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Cumberland project.
The overall programme aims to attract an additional 780,000 visitors a year.
By year 10, it is projected to generate £86.1 million in visitor spending and £50.4 million in gross value added, while supporting businesses, communities and economic growth across the wider Borderlands region.
Share