Curius Compass (not Curious?): The Story Behind Our Name & What It Means

Yes, we often have to spell it out.

Why no “o”?

This is the story of how we landed on the name Curius Compass, what it means, and why it fits the way we guide people along Hadrian’s Wall and beyond. It’s our brand story, and it’s closely tied to how we walk, guide and welcome people in Northumberland.

How It All Started: The Birth of Curius Compass

So how did we arrive at the name Curius Compass?

We originally traded as Hadrian’s History Tours, which did exactly what it said on the tin. But after a year, it became clear that it didn’t quite feel like us. It was accurate, but far too narrow. We knew we wanted a name that left space for our little business to grow.

Yes, we offer Hadrian’s Wall walking tours in the UK. But we also love other long-distance paths. Yes, there’s history everywhere, but there are also stories, landscapes, conversations, silliness, and moments of joy and quiet that have very little to do with dates and emperors. We wanted a name that could hold all of that.

Our vision was always about guiding women and inclusive walkers along the Wall in a way that felt welcoming, confidence-building and human. Walking should feel meaningful, not intimidating.

We flirted briefly with Tutu Tours. We loved the alliteration and the fun of it, but we also wanted to be clear about something else. We are confident, knowledgeable guides who inspire confidence in our guests. The tutus are part of that, not instead of it.

Compass felt right. It signals adventure and movement, but also reassurance. It says: you don’t have to know the way, we’ve got you. We’ll point you in the right direction, literally and figuratively.

The tricky part was what kind of compass. We went round the houses. Clever Compass. True North Compass. Quirky Compass. Leading Compass. Guiding Compass. Compass & a Cuppa (absolutely not, but it did make us laugh). We kept coming back to Curious Compass, because curiosity sits at the heart of everything we do, from walking tours in Northumberland to self-guided adventures and longer journeys along the Wall.

Except someone had already snagged the domain.

Then Katie said something along the lines of, “You know, in Latin they don’t use ou like we do. Think favor, labor, honor.”

And that was the spark.

In Latin, curious becomes curiosus. Say Curiosus Compass out loud a few times and you’ll agree, there’s one “s” too many. So we dropped the -us, kept the root, and Curius Compass was born. Soon after, curius.co.uk and curiuscompass.com were safely ours.

Why the Spelling Matters: What “Curius” Signals

First, it helps us stand out. In a world full of generic “curious” brands and mass-market tour operators, Curius signals that we do things a little differently.

Second, it reflects our commitment to authenticity. Our name isn’t a marketing afterthought. We spent a lot of time trying on lots of names. We wanted a name that was rooted in language and history, and that was aligned with who we are and what our values are.

And practically speaking, it works. People might search for both Curius Compass and Curious Compass, and that’s fine. What matters is that when you find us, you find something that feels different, thoughtful, creative and fun.

What Our Name Reflects in Our Tours and Ethics

Our name shows up in how we walk, guide and welcome people. We’re deeply rooted in

Northumberland and the landscape of Hadrian’s Wall. Local knowledge and hundreds of hours spent on the trails, in all seasons, shape every tour we offer.

Inclusivity really matters to us. Our walks are neurodiverse-friendly, with flexible pacing and space for different bodies, needs and speeds. There’s no pressure to perform, no racing ahead, and no one left behind.

As female guides, we’re used to guiding women, supporting women, and creating spaces where people feel comfortable, welcome and at ease.

We especially love welcoming guests who are curious about walking the Hadrian’s Wall Path but aren’t quite sure if it’s for them yet. With the right footwear, the option of walking poles, alternative routes where needed, and a steady guiding hand, we can help people feel relaxed, confident and have the best time.

We lead with storytelling. History, landscape, hidden details and real connection come first, rather than scripts or the same facts regurgitated for different tours.

We also care about responsible travel. Small groups, thoughtful self-guided options, lower-impact experiences and support for local businesses are part of

how we look after the places we love.

At the heart of all of this, though, is something much more personal.

For me, Curius Compass isn’t just a little business; it’s me. It’s my heart and soul, and it comes from a deep care for the people and the places. When I turned 50, my friends bought me a bespoke silver compass pendant, with my birthstone at the centre. They know me well. They’re often my focus groups and my social media stars, and they see first-hand the time and energy I pour into creating experiences people genuinely love.

So yes, it’s missing an “o”.

No, it’s not a mistake.

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Name and Brand

Is “Curius” just a typo?

Love this question. Curious in Latin is curiosus. Ultimately, this was going to involve a lot of extra letters, so we opted for curius instead. We hope our name sparks curiosity and gets them ready for a tour that’s anything but ordinary.

Why not choose a more obvious name?

Because we’re not interested in the obvious. When you walk the Wall, you pass countless things whose stories aren’t immediately clear. Why is it called the Whin Sill? Why isn’t it Crag Loch or Greenlee Loch? Why is Peel Gap Tower there? Why isn’t Hadrian’s Wall straight? Why are my tour guides wearing tutus? We wanted a name that calls to people who are interested in something a little bit different, a little quirky and a whole lot of fun.

Does the name affect the kind of walkers you cater to?

Yes. If you’re someone who wants the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth at all times, there is absolutely a tour guide out there just for you. It just isn’t us.

We do a lot of research, and we’re always learning. Every tour brings new questions we didn’t have answers to before, many of which have nothing to do with Roman history. Who designs national footpaths? What tree species grow in Crag Lough Woods? Has anyone ever died on Hadrian’s Wall? What’s the fastest known time for running the full length of the Wall?

After every tour, we go away and look things up, adding to our growing library of things we might be asked next time. But our focus is on stories, not facts for the sake of facts.

As Mark Twain put it, we “never let the truth stand in the way of a good story, unless you can’t think of anything better.” We don’t think people come walking with us for a history lecture, and we don’t enjoy lecturing either. What we love is sharing the stories of this amazing region and sharing our passion. We also love listening to the stories of our guests and the folk we meet on the trail.

I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious. —Albert Einstein

Curious about our self-guided walks, Women Walk the Wall or apocalypse survival guided tours? We’d love to help turn that curiosity into a Northumberland adventure you’ll remember.