June 30, 2023
Destination: The North
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8 of the Most Spectacular Hadrian’s Wall Views
Walking the 73 miles of Hadrian’s Wall can be done in around 6 to 7 days taking you through some stunning undulating countryside from coast to coast in the north of England. That said, if you’re limited on time, you may want to pick and choose the wall’s best bits that you can take in over the course of a couple of days.
With that in mind, we’ve gathered together some of our favourite, most spectacular Hadrian’s Wall views, that will leave you relieved you brought your camera.
1. Housestead’s Roman Fort
Website: English-heritage.org.uk
Location: Hexham, NE47 6NN
This Roman Fort sits at the top of Housesteads Crags with spectacular panoramic views overlooking the North Pennines and South Tynedale. You can see the layout of the original fort and you can even wander around the barrack blocks, the on-site hospital and two-thousand-year-old toilets!
2. Sewingshield Crags
Website: Sewingshield Crag
Location: Haydon Bridge, Hexham NE47 6NW
Found in the central section of Hadrian’s Wall along Whin Sill, Sewingsheild Crags is a stretch of wall with a simple mile-castle perched on the edge of the crag. The views are stunning from here, with amazing vistas across to the north.
3. Sycamore Gap
Website: Nationaltrust.org.uk
Location: Near Bardon Mill, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 6NN
Also known as Robin Hood’s Tree, Sycamore Gap had come to represent Hadrian’s Wall and forms the focal point for tourists and photographers alike. Incredibly it was felled in the early hours of 28th September 2023 .
Aside from being one of the filming locations of the 1991 movie, “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, the tree was incredibly photogenic, sitting in a dramatic dip between Milecastle 39 and Crag Lough, that was naturally caused by glacial waters.
4. Cuddy’s Crags
Location: Grid ref: NY7816860
Cuddy’s Crags and Houseteads Crags meet at one of the most scenic spots on Hadrian’s Wall. To the south you look over South Tynedale and towards the North Pennines in the distance and, on an early misty morning, it’s one of the most mystical-looking views in the area.
5. Steel Rigg
Location: Henshaw, Northumberland NE47 7AN
Steel Rigg is a stunning spot for visitors, and the walk to Crag Lough is suitable for all the family. The terrain itself has footpaths and tracks along with sharp, albeit short, ascents.
6. Black Carts
Location: Humshaugh, Chollerford, NE46 4BZ
To the eastern end of the central section of Hadrian’s Wall is Black Carts – a long stretch of wall and the North Ditch. To the east is the valley of North Tyne which sends up an almost cosmic display of early morning mist up the hill.
7. Cawfields Crags
Location: Cawfields, Haltwhistle, NE49 9PJ
Cawfields Crags houses a quarry from which stone was extracted. Now a pool takes the place of the quarry, and provides scenic reflections of the wall – great for a well-balanced photograph.
8. Walltown Crags
Location: Greenhead, Brampton CA8 7HZ
Walltown Crags stands as the final crag on the central section of Hadrian’s Wall before it dips down to Walltown Quarry and on through Cumbria. To the north are great views across the English-Scottish border, and if you squint slightly, you might even see scenes of 13th to 17th-century Border Rievers playing out in the mist.
Whilst it’s almost impossible to walk any stretch of Hadrian’s Wall without looking out to a spectacular view, we’ve narrowed down a list of 8 that we love, ranging from the well-known to the slightly obscure.
So, next time you pay a visit, don’t forget to bring your camera and keep a look out for these special hotspots of spectacular scenic significance.
