Cheers mate, I like the look of that and others people have mentioned. It's great to have unbiased advice from people who know what they're talking about.
Time isn't an issue so we'd rather do a long walk over a decent period. I'm trying to work out how to do Hadrians Wall by doing two days walk, hitching back to collect the van on the third day and repeating that until we reach Carlisle.
I can leave Mrs Smug to rest/shop/do her nails and use my free bus pass, an old trade plate, to go for the van which will have changes of clothes, etc.
The only problem is that we'd have to leave the van at Wallsend for two days!!!
I've just looked at a Youth Hostel Map.
Not a lot of use for Hadrians Wall, or the Lyke Wake, but it might be worth keeping in mind.
I used to use them a lot in my youth and there are certainly fewer on the ground today but I believe that they might be just a bit more comfortable.
However I CAN'T speak from current experience.
https://www.yha.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/PDFs/Maps/YHA_Network_Map_2018.pdf
