dogs on hadrian's wall
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Why not take a look at the recommendations from our inhouse expert, Elan the Collie
- GPS Coordinates – N54.98620° / W2.42231°
Northumberland is an enchanting border county and has such a lot to offer from rolling hills, the dramatic Hadrian’s Wall, stunning views, quiet beaches and fascinating history. It is really special here and your visit will definitely be unforgettable.
We’re sure that once you’ve visited, you’ll want to keep coming back
You can explore the many impressive castles, discover the incredible wildlife and not just marvel at the landscape but enjoy getting active in it whether it’s by walking, cycling, fishing or getting in or on the water. If you’d prefer however, you can just relax, enjoy some of the beautiful gardens, visit the friendly market towns and do some stargazing under the dark skies.
From the castle-and-coast walking paths to the more challenging hikes in our rural countryside, Northumberland has an extensive selection of long walking routes.
There is stunning walking and public footpaths right at the door of Hadrian’s Wall campsite with Hadrian’s wall only 20 minutes away.
You can enjoy the walks around us with your dog but there are a number of livestock areas so your furry companion may need to be on a lead. Please follow the canine code wherever you are.
If you have a good map and/or you have followed some of the excellent route guides (Northumberland National Park Walks) you can have a great day of self guided walking.
However, what better way to explore the surrounding area and to understand the landscape, its flora and fauna than to be guided by someone with a wealth of knowledge on a guided walk. The National Park around Hadrian’s wall is a haven for wildlife such as the charming dipper and Oyster catcher at the rivers or the magnificent Curlew in the heather areas of Hadrian’s wall.
The red squirrel, deer and grouse can also be found and the guides will know the areas where you are more likely to see them.
They will also be able to provide all the information you need on the landscape and its history, understanding exactly how the Romans worked and played for example. There are a few companies that offer guided walks including at the National Park .
You can just turn up to many of the National Park guided walks but you may need to book some.
Hadrian’s wall path is an 84 mile long National Trail and what a national trail it is. It stretches from Wallsend in the city of Newcastle to the Cumbrian coast at Bowness on Solway, running alongside the UNESCO world heritage site of Hadrian’s Wall, passing through dramatic landscape with interesting museum stops to give you an insight into how life was at the time of the building of the wall.
Our campsite is perfectly placed for walking Hadrian’s Wall path, whether you’re walking the whole 84 miles of the wall and needing a welcome, well-earned stopover to rest your legs and relax on your route, or whether you want to enjoy walking along just one of the most stunning parts of the wall while on your holiday exploring Northumberland.
Being less than a mile from the wall at Shield on the wall and Caw gap, you can walk to the wall in 20 minutes. In a few minutes from the campsite, you will turn the corner to be greeted by the magnificent, rugged and majestic expanse of the wall straight ahead of you and once you’ve reached the wall you can take in the spectacular scenery from all directions and marvel at this incredible construction
Once you’ve reached the wall, it’s easy to follow the path either East or West and the section of the wall here is the most preserved with the most breath-taking scenery.
You can use Hadrian’s wall campsite as your base while walking the wall as the AD122 bus which runs from Haltwhistle to Hexham and stops off at many places along the wall, will allow you to pick up where you left it the day before. The bus stops at the end of our road about 5 minutes away. Take a look at the bus route and timetable here. When you look at the timetable, click on the link that says “all stops” and our stop is called Melkridge Road End. You can buy a rover ticket or just pay for the trip you’re taking and you can get 10% discount in Vindolanda, Housesteads, Roman Army Museum, Chesters and Birdoswald. How good is that?
You may just be looking to walk sections of the wall and there are a number of excellent walking routes of varying distances. See National Park Walks for some ideas.
As many will know, on the 27th/28th September 2023, our wonderful sycamore tree was cut down in a terrible act of vandalism. We are all devastated at its loss and even though it’s more than a month since it happened, we still can’t believe that it’s true. The tree was special to many for many different reasons. The area where it sits is still a beautiful area and the dramatic landscape remains therefore we can’t bring ourselves currently to delete our wonderful sycamore gap section written below. It will always be a part of Hadrian’s wall for us and something special will be put in its place to commemorate where it proudly stood
We’re so lucky to be at such a central point in relation to Hadrian’s Wall. You will be there in 20 minutes and then whichever direction you take it will lead you to some of the most interesting and well preserved parts of the wall with captivating, breath-taking views.
But as we are so near to the Sycamore gap, once you’ve reached the wall at Shield on the Wall, you really must turn right and head along to the spectacular highest point of the wall at Whinshield Crags, continue on to Peel Crag and Steel Rigg to reach the destination of the famous, incredible tree although not before you’ve reached Castle Nick – Milecastle 39 – which sits in the “nick” just before you climb again and then drop into the dip of the tree. You can get here in around 1 ½ hours
The sycamore tree is a few hundred years old and derived its name from the fact that it sits in the spectacular dip that was created by the glaciers and the meltwater. It won the tree of the year award in 2016 and is famous as “the Robin Hood tree” as it was featured in the Kevin Costner film So the tree has certainly earned its place in the hall of fame for its appearance on The Robin Hood film as well as showing up with our very own “Vera” and with Robson Green on his journey along the wall.
This experienced tree has seen many visitors through the years. People will come to Hadrian’s Wall just to visit Sycamore gap and its sturdy tree or they will pass it by chance on their pilgrimage along the wall. They will take shelter in the rain, sit in its shade from the sun and benefit from its grand energy. It will have many stories to tell – of the marriage proposals, the wedding parties, the scattered ashes, the blistered feet, the simple sandwiches or the grand champagne picnics. It’s special to say that you’ve been there too
This is one of the most photographed trees in the country. Photographers will spend endless days waiting for the perfect moment and artists will quietly sit with their palettes and pens capturing its essence. Wherever you go in this part of Northumberland, you will see the results of their quiet perseverance in the glorious pictures in all seasons and at all times of the day. The tree under the dark skies with the brilliant stars and even the aurora is spectacular.
Why not take a look at the recommendations from our inhouse expert, Elan the Collie
Cycling around Northumberland and around Hadrian’s wall campsite is a great way to experience the joys of the area and the landscape. Within a few minutes, you will reach routes 68 and 72 of the national cycle network.
Route 72 is the coast to coast Hadrian’s cycleway. It starts in Cumbria at Ravenglass and is an impressive 170 miles long finishing in South Shields in Tyne and Wear and passing through Hadrian’s wall country, right on our doorstep. You can pick up this route easily from us and this will take you on to the Roman sites such as Vindolanda or Housesteads, and you can park your bike to see the great parts of the wall. To the West you can head into Haltwhistle on this route or explore Hadrian’s wall to the West for example at Walltown.
Route 68 runs from Derby and runs along the spine of England up to the North of our county, finishing in Berwick upon Tweed. It runs through the most spectacular, unspoilt landscape of Northumberland and is a great route to pick up from the campsite. To the north you can head onto the cycle path through the forest which can also take you on to Kielder water if you’re a hardy cyclist.
For perhaps a bit of a gentler ride, route 68 to the south and West of us heads into Haltwhistle and then on to the South Tyne trail along the old, disused railway line. On this route you will eventually reach Lambley viaduct – an impressive 110 ft high and 800 ft long bridge that was built in 1852 to carry coal and lead down the valley to Haltwhistle. It’s a beautiful bridge and the views from the top of the bridge are stunning. It’s a beautiful area to explore.
We are blessed in Northumberland to be the home of many animals and plant species and the National Park works hard to ensure their preservation.
While here and exploring the area, you may be lucky enough to see a host of animals including the waders such as the oystercatcher and the curlew, grouse and dippers. The air is full of birdsong wherever you go – see our birdlife blog to see what kind of birds you’ll see while you’re on our campsite and around
You will need to share your pitch with a variety of animals including our lovely rabbits of which there are an abundance. We try to promote the wildlife as much as possible here so our plants help to attract the butterflies and bees and you may even get a glimpse of the lovely hedgehogs or stoats
At night you will hear the hoot of the owl and the other night time visitors in the fields around us are the fox and the badger.
In the National park there are red squirrels along with roe deer and hare so you will certainly be treated if you get a glimpse
In the Autumn you won’t be able to take a walk without coming across a range of fungi including the beautiful red waxcaps.
Nature is certainly at its best here
Northumberland is one of the best places in the country to go stargazing. Northumberland National Park along with Kielder water and park became England’s first international dark sky park in 2013 and as we are a stones throw from the national park, we also experience the amazing constellations.
We keep our night lighting to a minimum (therefore be careful when you are walking around the site at night – you will need a torch) and where we do use lighting, we have ensured that it is appropriate to keep the light pollution as low as possible. So, sitting outside on a clear night during your camping trip is a splendid thing when you are treated to the amazing skies here.
On Hadrian’s Wall, the area at Cawfields quarry, only 5 minutes’ drive away from us, has been designated a dark sky discovery site and if you are keen to be educated while you wonder at the stars, you can book onto one of the many stargazing events held at The Twice Brewed pub, less than 2 miles from us, or head further afield to the Kielder Observatory.
If you download the Aurora Watch UK app while you are staying with us, you could even get a notification of when the northern lights can be visible and perhaps head on over to Hadrian’s wall to see if you get a glimpse.
Our nearest town, Haltwhistle, is only 3 miles away and has a fantastic leisure centre with 3 heated, open air swimming pools.
From April to September, you can enjoy swimming in the outdoors even when it’s a little cooler outside. There’s a water flume for the kids to enjoy as well.
They have a sports hall, 3 seasonal outdoor heated pools, an astro turf, a gym and a fitness studio providing a fun day out for all the family.
Your entry fee allows you unlimited all day use of the pools, adventure play area and picnic area. There is also free parking available for cars and coaches.
Around 30 minutes’ drive away we have the beautiful waterfall of Hareshaw Linn. The walk to the waterfall through ancient woodland is glorious. This is an area of rare ferns and lichens and where you might see red squirrels. The walk is very different from the ones you will do at Hadrian’s wall with the reward of the spectacular waterfall at the end. Some people enjoy a swim in the water but please do your own research on this to ensure it’s safe and allowed.
A little closer to us is Crammel Linn just outside the village of Gilsland and only a 15 to 20 minute drive away. This is a double waterfall and a lovely area to have a picnic and (again with lots of care, research and understanding of the terrain) people do swim in the river here. You can park your car in a parking area above the waterfall area and walk on a marked footpath from there. The walk down to the waterfall is steep and slippery in places if it’s been raining so you do need to take care.
In a 25 minute drive you can reach the fabulous bird of prey centre at Falconry days where you can book to meet the birds at the centre, learn about them and even have a go at handling and flying them.
Falconry Days are a professional falconry business that trains and flies around 70 Birds of Prey. They are an activity centre with fully trained, working Birds of Prey which are managed and flown in rotation on a daily basis, both on and off site at country shows, schools, hotels, weddings... in fact everywhere!
We have some wonderful, historic towns not far from the campsite. With the heart of Britain just a few miles away in Haltwhistle, the historic Hexham with its beautiful abbey and the picturesque Corbridge once invaded by William Wallace no-less.
Haltwhistle is the geographical Centre of Britain and is only 3.5 miles from the campsite. It is a picturesque town sitting beside the South Tyne river and with more than 2000 years of history. From the 18th-early 20th centuries Haltwhistle’s industries included mining, farming, woollen mills, breweries, brickworks and limekilns.
Here you can visit the parish church – Holy Cross – dating back, it’s believed, to the 9th century.
The bastle houses and peel tower on the Main Street still remain and are testament to the feuds and raids of the medieval period frequently seen on the English-Scottish border
In the 1830s the Newcastle to Carlisle railway was built and the railway station in Haltwhistle is still in use today providing excellent links to the two cities.
Haltwhistle now is home to local businesses including the butcher, Billy Bell’s – famous for his sausages and pies - and you can visit the great coffee shops and lovely local pubs.
The lovely market town of Hexham has been voted England’s favourite market town by Country Life magazine and you can see why it is so popular
The Abbey stands proudly in the town’s centre and is well worth a visit. Stunning architecture, picturesque parks, and a bloody history are all waiting to be explored in Hexham. Immerse yourself in stories about the Vikings, historical criminal families or ‘Border Reivers’, and the Anglo-Saxon Abbey
It also boasts the Old Gaol, England’s first purpose built prison and you can stroll around the shops enjoying the galleries and lovely coffee shops.
There is also a farmer’s market twice a month where you can stock up on your local produce.
There is also a great selection of restaurants and pubs in the town.
The nearby roman town of Corbridge is the jewel in the crown of Northumberland. There is an excellent roman site managed by English Heritage on the outskirts of the village The bridge at Corbridge is the oldest of the medieval bridges in the region which became derelict by the 17th century, and was finally replaced in 1674.
Today Corbridge has a very pretty high street and village square with a plethora of small independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants. It’s difficult to single out individual businesses but the kitchen shop is special as are Stobo’s the greengrocer and Hall’s the butcher. The front beer garden of the Angel Hotel is a lovely spot on a sunny afternoon and we can recommend The Valley Indian Restaurant at the railway station in Corbridge
Corbridge has many annual events held on the large fields near the railway station, the steam rally held every June is very popular along with the Corbridge music festival in July. Our personal favourite is the beer and cider festival in June
Northumberland, England’s northernmost county, is a land where Roman occupiers once guarded a walled frontier. Anglican invaders fought with Celtic natives, and Norman lords built castles to suppress rebellion and defend a contested border with Scotland.
Vindolanda is one of the North East’s most famous tourist attractions and is less than 4 miles from the campsite. You can easily take a wonderful walk to the site and make a great day of it. This is home to the Vindolanda Writing Tablets – Britain’s “top treasure” – and they have live excavations every year that you can observe or even volunteer to take part in yourself.
It’s a 4 mile walk or drive to Housesteads, the best preserved of all the Roman forts along Hadrian’s Wall. Here you’ll see excavated remains of all the different types of buildings within a typical fort including the barracks, hospital and toilets. The views from the fortress are stunning.
It’s eleven miles to Chester’s roman fort from our campsite. The fort, built in AD124 during the construction of Hadrian’s wall, is reputed to be the most complete cavalry fort in Britain. Around 500 Roman soldiers resided here and during your visit you’ll see the well-preserved baths and steam room that they enjoyed as well as the officers’ quarters.
The Alnwick Garden is a wonderful place to visit full of interest, imagination and fun.
Be moved by the tranquility of the Cherry Orchard, the largest of its kind in the world, and experience the excitement of the Grand Cascade and water sculptures.
Be amazed in the Poison Garden and explore one of the world’s largest tree houses. The garden has a collection of hundreds of plant varieties and is really worth a visit.
This 13,000 acre estate has something for everyone.
Explore the home of the unconventional Trevelyan family. Visit the enchanting walled garden. Look out for red squirrels at the wildlife hide. Enjoy a refreshing walk along the river and relax in the grassy courtyard with tea and cake.
With lots of regular events it's perfect for the family.
There are more castles in Northumberland than any other county in England. There are too many glorious castles to name and describe them all but one of the most famous and impressive, standing guard over the magnificent Northumberland coastline is Bamburgh castle.
There is so much that this castle has to offer – get a little taster by following the link
We think Northumberland is a very special county with its amazing landscape, the wonderful people, the fantastic places to visit and of course the delicious produce. In our shop you’ll get a small sample of what Northumberland has to offer with biscuits, jams, chutneys, ice cream, chocolate, Fentiman’s drinks and of course the delicious Billy Bell’s sausages, as well as the Northumberland roasted coffee. But there is so much more to taste. If you don’t want to travel too far, pop into the Sill Landscape discovery centre where you can pick up some tasty treats along with local gins, beers and meads. You could call in yourselves at Billy Bell’s in Haltwhistle where they not only have their delicious sausages and homemade pies and cakes, they stock local Northumberland cheese.
Head to Hexham market or to Corbridge where you’ll find a whole range of local produce and if you’re heading to the coast you must try the famous Craster kippers and take back some great Northumberland delights to remind you or your great trip here.
We are spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out. Below are a selection of local places to eat.
You will get a lovely warm welcome at the Milecastle Inn. If you just want somewhere to have a drink and enjoy the amazing view of Hadrian’s wall, or if you want an excellent meal cooked with local produce then this is the place to go.
It’s only 30 minutes to walk to The Milecastle from the campsite and only a short detour if you’re walking Hadrian’s wall path at Milecastle 41 and you’re in need of a break. The cosiness of the pub with its 3 small seating areas means that they cannot allow dogs inside.
This dog friendly pub is in a great spot at the foot of Hadrian’s Wall. You can call in on your way to or from (or both) sycamore gap and you’ll get a good meal.
If you enjoy real ales, you will be treated here to a range of beers from the onsite brewery.
They also run excellent stargazing events here and you can make a night of it by combining your starry education with a hearty meal.
In our nearest town of Haltwhistle – the centre of Britain – you will find a range of places to eat from great little cafes to hotel restaurant, with pubs, takeaways and pop up kitchens in between. Both the Black Bull and the Manor House Inns are dog friendly and are great pubs for the “crack” with the locals. At the Brew Bar, you can have a coffee and cake by day but at night it turns into a great bar and it hosts the pop up catering vans serving a range of different cuisines. The market place can be buzzing on a lovely summer’s evening or with the sparkly Christmas lights in winter.
This is the perfect place for your Northumberland getaway. We have the most precious thing here, being surrounded by views and nature that make us smile every day.
All we want is for you to experience it also and we know you’ll love it as much as we do.
We want your holiday to be full of happiness and special memories – full of wellbeing- and we will always do our very best to ensure that happens.
A bit of nurture in nature.
