Housesteads Fort to Steel Rigg via Hadrian's Wall - Route.
Distance: 8 miles / 15½ kilometers
Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Grade: Easy
Map: OS Explorer OL43 - Hadrian's Wall (Haltwhistle & Hexham)
Start Point: The Pay and Display Car Park on the B6318
Grid Reference: NY 793 683
Nearest Post Code: NE47 6NN
| Serial | Distance | Grid Reference | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 0.00 miles | NY 793 683 | From the pay and display car park ascend up to Housesteads Fort via the rear entrance in the information centre, walk up above the museum and keeping to the left of the fort. |
| 02 | 0.47 miles | NY 788 688 | Heading west following the Hadrian's Wall Path. Passing Housestead Crags and Cuddy Crags to wher the path arrives at a cross path junction with the Pennine way at Turret 37A. (Turn right to shorten the walk to 3.6 miles, and join the route at serial 10) |
| 03 | 1.59 miles | NY 772 681 | Continue along the path as it bears left passing Hotbank Farm and the earthworks of Milecastle 38.
(Turn right to shorten the walk to 4.8 miles, and join the route at serial 09). |
| 04 | 1.71 miles | NY 773 679 | The path bears right after about 200 yards. Continue along the path passing to the south of Crag Lough. |
| 05 | 2.40 miles | NY 761 677 | The path drops down to pass through the wall at Sycamore Gap (Robin Hood's tree) made famous by the scene in the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. |
| 06 | 2.88 miles | NY 754 675 | Continue along the path signed Steel Rigg Hadian's wall path, through the woodland and passing Peel Crags and after bending left then right arrive at Steel Rigg Car Park. |
| 07 | 3.18 miles | NY 750 675 | Leave Steel Rigg Car Park, turning right along the road for about 250 yards, shortly after the road bears left continue to a farm track path on the right. |
| 08 | 3.33 miles | NY 749 677 | Turn right along the path to head east, passing Peatrigg Plantation. Continue along the path passing over two footbridges of two becks, towards Hotbank Farm. |
| 09 | 4.85 miles | NY 771 684 | The path bears left to head away from the farm buildings of Hotbank Farm, then turns sharp right. Alternatively turn right, cut through the farm and then turn left to retrace the trail from serial 3 above. |
| 10 | 5.69 miles | NY 782 691 | Continue along the path heading in an easterly direction to arrive at the cross path junction with the Pennine Way, continue straight ahead. |
| 11 | 6.69 miles | NY 798 693 | The path runs south of Broomlee Lough and through a short plantation to Kings Wicket where the path junctions with the Hadrian's Wall Path. |
| 12 | 6.71 miles | NY 789 687 | Turn right to head west, and follow the path back to Housesteads Fort, then back to the car park from where the walk started. |