Hadrian’s Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the best things to do in Northumberland. Although it is possible to walk the whole of the wall, which stretches across the North of England, I wasn’t ready for that, and wanted a way to see Hadrian’s Wall without too much effort! Here’s how to do a small section of the Hadrian’s Wall walk, from Housesteads Roman Fort to Sycamore Gap.
What is Hadrian’s Wall?
First off, let’s talk about what exactly Hadrian’s Wall is. The Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered the wall to be built in AD 122, to form a fixed border dividing the Roman Empire from the unconquered Caledonia (Scotland) to the north. The wall runs from coast to coast across what is now northern England, mainly through Northumberland and Cumbria with some in Tyne and Wear.
Hadrian’s Wall was 73 miles long, and large parts of it are still intact today, making it the largest Roman archaeological feature in Britain. As well as visiting the wall, there are also several forts, milecastles, and turrets that you can still see along the wall.
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Where is the Best Place to See Hadrian’s Wall
That depends where you are, as the wall stretches across the country. There are places where you can visit Hadrian’s Wall in Cumbria, Northumberland, and in Newcastle in Tyne and Wear. For me, I was staying in Northumberland National Park, and Housesteads Roman Fort was one of the closest parts of Hadrian’s Wall. Northumberland is a varied and cheap place to visit in the UK, so it is a great choice for your visit.
I also wanted to visit Sycamore Gap, one of the more famous parts of the wall which has featured in various films including Robin Hood Prince of Thieves! These two places are about an hour’s walk apart, so I decided to park at Housesteads Roman Fort and walk along Hadrian’s Wall path to Sycamore Gap (and back again).
Is Hadrian’s Wall Free To Visit?
The Hadrian’s Wall footpath is open to the public and free to walk along. If you want to visit any of the forts or museums around the wall then there is a charge for those. Hadrian’s Wall and its associated museums and archaeological sites are managed by English Heritage. English Heritage Members can visit the museums for free if you pre-book a time slot.
Joing the English Heritage before 31st May and get 15% off with the code EH2021
National Trust members also get free tickets to Housesteads Roman Fort, by booking as an ‘Associated Organisation’ on the English Heritage website. There is a charge for car parking at every car park I found along the wall, which are all managed by Northumberland National Park. Charges start from £2 for an hour’s parking.
Housesteads Roman Fort
As part of my exploration of England, I wanted to learn more about Hadrian’s Wall and the Romans here in Northumberland. I parked up just off the B6381 road, where charges were £3 for 3 hours, and £2 for every additional hour. You pay when you leave so at least I wasn’t rushing to get back to avoid a parking fine!
I headed off up the footpath to the fort, about half a mile up the hill. The walk is quite steep but worth the effort! There is a small museum and gift shop where you can see some of the artefacts recovered from the fort, including jewellery, tools, weapons, and statues, as well as information boards relating how the wall was built, the size of the Roman Empire, and what happened at the end of the Empire.
From here, walk further up the hill to the remains of the fort. The fort was built around AD 124 and was occupied for 280 years. It was home to 800 soldiers and is the best-preserved fort on Hadrian’s Wall.
In the ruins, you can visit what remains of a barracks block, hospital, Commander’s House, granaries, and communal latrines. Delightful! After exploring the fort, I headed to the wall, and walked west, towards Sycamore Gap.
Hadrian’s Wall Walk to Sycamore Gap
From the fort, it takes about an hour at a leisurely pace to walk to Sycamore Gap. The path has some steep inclines and descents, so I’d recommend a decent pair of walking boots. Although some sections of the path go through woodland, most of the Hadrian’s Wall trail doesn’t have any shade or shelter, so come prepared for the weather!
For the first part of the trail from the fort, you can actually walk on top of Hadrian’s Wall, then you drop down and walk alongside it. You will pass by Milecastle 37, the remains of a small fort built at the wall – watch out for the remains of an arched gateway.
The views all along the path are impressive, especially as you can see the wall curving up and down and side to side as it follows the shape of the land.
As you come to Crag Lough there is a steep hill up through the trees to the top, which you see coming as you walk along the path. Keep an eye open for deer, I saw two from the top of Crag Lough, bounding through the grass on the other side of the lake.
From Crag Lough, descend into Sycamore Gap. Sycamore Gap has become famous as there is one lone sycamore tree that stands close to a gap in the wall. It featured in the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, where, on his way back to his father’s house, Robin Hood comes across a group of soldiers chasing a young boy (Wolf) who hides in the tree.
As cheesy as it is, I love that film, and while it is supposed to be near Nottingham in the film, it is an iconic part of the Northumberland landscape.
Sycamore Gap is a popular spot for photographs, so if you want the tree to yourself you’ll have to get here early (or late!), or be very patient. It’s a good place to stop for a picnic while you wait, or you can carry on up the steep path to get panoramic views of the tree and the wall beyond, as well as across the surrounding fields.
From here, you could continue along the path for another half hour or so to The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre which has a café, shop selling local crafts and produce, an exhibition centre, and a new YHA Hostel.
As the weather was beginning to turn, I decided to head back the way I came – taking a shortcut that avoided some of the steepest hills along the way. It began to rain just as I arrived back at the van.