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Peel Crags & Winshield Crags from Vindolanda

Northumberland Walk

Nat Park - Northumberland

County/Area - Northumberland County

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.8 miles / 12.7 km    Ascent - 800 feet / 242 metres

Time - 4 hours 40 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

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Ordnance Survey Explorer OL43Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer OL43Digital Map1:25kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Peel Crags & Winshield Crags from Vindolanda
Click image to see photo description.

Hadrian's Wall is one the greatest legacies remaining from the Roman's occupation of the British Isles. The 84 mile long wall is followed by the Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail which was opened in 2003. This walk explores one of the more dramatic sections of the Wall and also includes Vindolanda Roman Fort. The start is the small car park south of the B6138 and east of Vindolanda at grid ref. NY773664. You can also complete the walk by using the Hadrian's Wall bus service AD122 which runs from April through to September.

After parking, exit the car park and turn right along the lane. Just after the lane turns sharp left, take the footpath on the right to pass High Shield on your left. Cross the B6138 and take the path opposite which goes half right across a field to join a track leading to the Wall. Turn left along the Wall to follow the Hadrian's Wall Path and the Pennine Way west. With Crag Lough down to your right the path climbs over Highshield Crags and continues over Peel Crags. Just before the minor road at grid ref. NY750675 there is a fine retrospective view along the wall.

Cross the minor road and continue west along the Wall passing the trig point on Winshield Crags. The path continues without any navigational problems to descend to a minor lane at Caw Gap (grid ref. NY726668). This is where this route leaves the Wall. After turning left along the lane, take the first footpath on the left. This leads you past Shield on the Wall on your right to reach the B6138. Take the minor lane opposite and walk south. After just over half a mile the road bends right (grid ref NY734654). Leave the road here and take the track on your left to pass Cranberry Brow on your right.

Reaching a lane (grid ref. NY756657), turn left. Almost immediately on your right is the access track to Layside. Take this track and pass Layside on your right. After Layside a path continues east past Kit's Shield to reach a track (grid ref. NY765659). Turn left and continue up to a lane. Go right here passing the site of Vindolanda Roman Fort on your right. Continue along this lane passing a car park on your right to reach the parking area used as the start.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3404 Hadrian's Wall - Cawfields to Steel Riggeasy/mod3.5 miles
Walk 1198 Hadrian's Wall & Steel Riggmoderate8.0 miles
Walk 2337 Greenlee Lough and Steel Riggeasy/mod7.5 miles
Walk 3331 Cragend & Crow Crags from Housesteads easy/mod8.4 miles
Walk 3343 Hadrian's Wall, Walltown Crags & Aesicaeasy/mod5.0 miles
Walk 2803 Hadrian's Wall and Haughton Commonhard20.0 miles
Walk 1786 Hadrian's Wall & Simonburn circulareasy/mod6.8 miles
Walk 1987 Allendale Town Circulareasy/mod6.6 miles
Walk 1942 Watson's Pike & Hexhamshire Commoneasy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 1477 Bellingham to Kiln Rigg by Pennine Way Circularmoderate14.3 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walking in Northumberland

Walking in Northumberland This guidebook contains detailed route descriptions for 36 day walks in Northumberland including the Cheviot Hills. The terrain varies from wild walks and craggy ascents to gentle riverside strolls. Each route ranges from 4 to 16 miles in length and there is the opportunity to link several walks together to create longer treks.
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The Pennine Way

The Pennine WayGuidebook to the Pennine Way National Trail with OS map booklet. The 265 mile route from Edale to Kirk Yetholm takes three weeks to walk and is suitable for fit and experienced long distance walkers. The route crosses the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines National Parks. Includes separate OS 1:25,000 map booklet of the route.
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