Housesteads Fort to Steel Rigg via Hadrian's Wall.

8 miles / 15½ kilometers

Time: 4 hours 30 minutes

Grade: Easy

Map: OS Explorer OL43 - Hadrian's Wall (Haltwhistle & Hexham)

Walk summary

This 8 mile walk is fairly easy going over undulating very picturesque landscape, which follows Hadrian's Wall from Housesteads Fort to Steel Rigg. The assents are steady and nothing too strenuous. The walk starts from the car park at the information centre on the B6318

The car park has a automatic number plate recognition system, where payment is made on exit and the tariff is determined by your length of stay. From the car park enter the shop and leave through the rear exit, to follow the trail up to the fort, where there is a museum, (which is well worth a visit), which has a £7.00 entrance fee - Free for National Trust members.

Housesteads Fort, is the remains of a Roman auxiliary fort which housed an infantry garrison and dates back to AD 122, the site is managed by the National Trust. The trail heads west and follows Hadrian's Wall to Steel Rigg car park via Sycamore Gap. The lone Sycamore tree was made famous in the 1991 film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner. The tree has since become known as Robin Hood's tree and is probably one of the most photographed spots in Northumberland!

The trail then through a short woodland above the crags that stand majestically over Crag Lough lake, before arriving at the car park of Steel Rigg. The route then circles around to the north side of the Lough, heading eastwards back to Housesteads Fort over pastureland with stunning views of the wall and the surrounding area.

The return eastern leg over the pastureland can be muddy, particularly during the wetter months or after heavy rainfall.