Hadrian’s Wall, built by the Romans, travels 73 miles, north of England. It runs through three counties: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear. With the most scenic stretch being in Northumberland.
There are many different ways to explore Hadrian’s Wall. You can take a challenge and walk the Hadrian’s Wall Trail, which takes a number of days to complete, or you can complete little sections of the wall, as a day hike.
If you only have time to hike just one section of Hadrian’s Wall, this is the walk to do! This short 2-mile walk is not only beautiful, but it’s also home to the famous Robin Hood Tree, Sycamore Gap. The tree was used in a scene in the 1991 blockbuster film ‘Robin Hood Prince of Thieves’. The scene that starred Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman. Today, this tree has got the title of the most photographed tree in the whole of England!
Location
Sycamore Gap is located south of Northumberland’s National Park. 26 miles West of Carlisle, and 35 miles East of Newcastle.
Parking
There is a small pay and display car park at the start of the trailhead, called Steel Rigg Car Park. The car park does get full by mid-morning. However, with most people only walking the 2-mile circular, you will probably only have to wait a short time for a parking space.
Sat Nav: Steel Rigg Car Park, Henshaw, NE47 7AN
The Route
Follow this map, as you walk the route, you shouldn’t get lost! The route is written, travelling clockwise.
Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are, on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.
1.
Starting in the car park, head west through the car park. At the end of the car park, you should see a gate leading onto a footpath. Head through the gate and follow the footpath, until you reach a second gate on your left-hand side.
2.
Head through the gate and follow the footpath as it leads you down the field. Shortly, follow the footpath as it leads you steeply up onto the hill edge.
3.
Continue to follow the footpath along the hilltop, until you down to Sycamore Gap. As you walk along the footpath, you should see Hadrian’s Wall running parallel to you on your left-hand side. Also, look out for Castle Nick, some old Roman ruins, also located on your left-hand side.
4.
From Sycamore Gap, turn towards your right-hand side and head down the valley for a short distance, until you reach another path.
Before continuing on with your walk, don’t forget to capture that photo of the Robin Hood Tree!
5.
Turn to your right-hand side onto the path, and follow as it heads back in the direction of the car park.
6.
Eventually, you will come to a gate. Head through the gate and take the path forking off to your right-hand side. Follow the path to the second gate.
7.
Head through the gate and follow the path forward to another gate. Head through the gate and into the car park, where you started the walk from.
To learn more about visiting Hadrian’s Wall, please visit their website: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hadrians-wall/
Want to see what other hikes there are to do in Northumberland? Please check out some of my other blogs: Northumberland
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