This walk covers a section of Hadrian's Wall. Starting from Steel Rigg, Northumbria National Park, the route includes a visit to Housesteads Fort and the dramatic scenery of Hotbank Crags and Crag Lough. The route along the wall has many ups and downs but does provide you with a chance to walk in the footsteps of the Roman Legions.
Calculated time: 3h40[?] 
Distance : 11.19km
Vertical gain : 163m
Vertical drop : 162m
Highest point : 313m
Lowest point : 244m 
Difficulty : Average
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Location : Henshaw
Starting point : N 55.002924° / W 2.391544° (D/A) Park at the Steel Rigg car park (grid ref. NY750676). Return to the lane and turn right. After a short way there is a signed footpath on the right and you need to follow this right of way as it crosses fields past Peatrigg and Long Side to reach a path junction just north of Hotbank Farm. Follow the farm track a short way northeast before waymarks lead you on across more fields towards a small plantation (easiest route is around it rather through it as waymarked!) to reach the Wall at King's Wicket (grid ref.NY798694).
(1) With the easiest section behind you, the switchback route now follows the Wall back to Steel Rigg car park for a distance of approximately four miles. This section is some of the best preserved and does benefit from including Vercovicium Fort (Housesteads) en-route. There are many better qualified people to inform you of the details of the Wall but suffice to say it is very impressive. The remains (mostly foundations) at Housesteads are remarkable with much to see and investigate. As you walk perhaps you should try to imagine what it was like to be stationed here in winter after enjoying the Mediterranean warmth of Italy!
(2) Leaving Housesteads the route switchbacks up and down as it follows the most advantageous contours of the natural escarpment. I particularly liked the section along the crest of Hotbank Crags and the final stretch above Crag Lough and along Peel Crags. Both these sections are very enjoyable and enable you to get a feel for the area besides enjoying the history(D/A).
In conclusion this walk is a must for anyone visiting Northumberland ... if only history was as interesting at school!
Waypoints :
D/A : km 0 - alt. 278m - Steel Rigg car park
1 : km 5.6 - alt. 279m - King's Wicket
2 : km 6.99 - alt. 273m - Housesteads
D/A : km 11.19 - alt. 278m
Hadrian's Wall is one of the great monuments to the Roman Occupation of Britain. Had it not been for subsequent inhabitants of the area using the wall as an easy source of building stone, there might have been at least some sections that retained their original height. However despite this "vandalism", enough remains to give visitors an excellent idea of what this northern outpost of the Roman Empire was actually like.
First of all a warning! This should be an easy walk but it does involve a considerable amount of ascent/descent and requires much more energy than you might think! Apart from the immediate area around Housesteads, which was quite busy, there were few people on the route and you could enjoy the Wall at leisure.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 4.67/5
Number of opinions : 3
Description quality : 4.67/5
Routemap quality : 4.33/5
Walk interest : 5/5
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 13/08/20
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
DId this walk on a windy and rainy day, but this did not detract from the natural beauty and the feeling of mystery surrounding the Roman Wall. Stopped for a break at Sycamore Gap before continuing the more arduous last stretch of the walk, feeling of awe settles on you as you ponder what the conditions that the historical residents put up with especially in the always promising adverse weather conditions. Thoroughly enjoyable and will be visiting again.
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 22/02/19
Description quality
: Very good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Did this walk along hadrians wall last Friday with family, 9,11,13 year old and 18 month old on by back. Excellent walk, beautiful scenery. Stopped at the Roman fort for an hour or so. Second half is more difficult due to numerous steep climbs but just makes it more interesting. Got some lovely photos at sycamore gap towards the end. Lots of other walkers out but definitely not too busy. Car park quite expensive, £3 for 3 hours and £2 for each additional hour. We spent around 5 or 6 hours there and didn’t want to be limited by time so found a place to park along the road a short walk from Steel Rigg car park.
Thanks for your comment. Feel free to give us any additional comment to improve the routemap quality 
Cheers,
Aurélie - Community manager.
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 11/01/19
Description quality
: Good
Routemap quality
: Average
Walk interest
: Very good
Northumbrian fields were a little boggy in January but passable. Excellent views, intetesting Roman fort but you have to pay to enter. Quite a lot of the wall remains which was a surprise ( 6 feet high in places). 4 hours round trip with 20 min coffee stop.
5.57km
+62m
-65m
1h45
Easy
Starting point in Henshaw - Northumberland A circular walk along one of the most scenic sections of Hadrian’s Wall involves some short, sharp ascents.
12.83km
+206m
-203m
4h15
Average
Starting point in Bardon Mill - Northumberland This Northumbria walk explores one of the more dramatic sections of Hadrian's Wall and also includes Vindolanda Roman Fort. This walk can also be undetaken using the Hadrian's Wall bus service AD122 which runs from April through to September.
7.81km
+204m
-200m
2h50
Easy
Starting point in Bardon Mill - Northumberland The opportunity to visit the remains of two Roman Forts and walk along one of the best sections of Hadrian's Wall are the main features of this walk in the Northumberland National Park. The walking is generally easy and for the most part the walk follows well trodden routes.
13.78km
+179m
-171m
4h25
Average
Starting point in Bardon Mill - Northumberland This Northumberland walk includes Hadrian's Wall and the Pennine Way. The route crosses some rough ground which can be rather boggy after heavy rain.
7.91km
+91m
-99m
2h30
Easy
Starting point in Bardon Mill - Northumberland An easy circular walk with the option to explore the Roman fort at Housesteads. The walk takes in some of the best preserved sections of the wall with great views over the dramatic landscape.
2.95km
+81m
-81m
1h05
Easy
Starting point in Greenhead - Northumberland Take a stroll to see Thirlwall Castle, a relic of troubled times between the 12th and 15th centuries.
4.65km
+106m
-106m
1h40
Easy
Starting point in Bellingham - Northumberland Hareshaw Linn is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), designated for its rare ferns and lichen. More than 300 different types of mosses, liverworts and lichen can be found. The ‘Linn’ is also home to red squirrel, great spotted woodpecker, wood warbler, spotted flycatcher, badger and Daubenton's bat.
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