(S/E) Leave the car park by the wicket gate in the far corner of the wall, signposted ‘Hadrian’s Wall’. Follow the footpath straight on.
When you meet Hadrian’s Wall turn left through the gate. Follow the Wall down the grassy bank to the paved footpath. Turn left onto this path and climb steeply up the stone steps to the top of Peel Crags. Great views from here.
(1) Keep following the path alongside Hadrian’s Wall (it goes up and down a fair bit!) to Milecastle 39* and then the tree at Sycamore Gap. *Milecastles are fortified gateways, built every Roman mile, often protecting weak points along the Wall.
(2) Keep to the path alongside the Wall and then up to the top of Highshield Crags, where you look down to Crag Lough, a glacial lake. Take care along the crags - there are steep drops!
Follow the path through the wood and go through the gate at the end. Continue along the path and go through the next gate on your right.
Cross the farm track and keep to the paved path following it through the gate, signed ‘Housesteads’. Continue straight ahead up the grassy footpath to a stone step stile on your left by Hotbank Farmgate, near to the farm buildings.
(3) Cross the stone stile, and head straight on, keeping the farm buildings on your left. Go through the gate and follow the track to a ladder stile by a gate.
(4) Turn immediately to your left and go over a step stile by the footpath sign. Head straight across the field, and over the stile. Cross the next field to the footpath sign.
(5) Turn onto the farm track until you reach a ladder stile. Cross the stile and head across the next field to an enclosure and barn.
(6) Keep the dry stone wall on your right, and follow the path, which becomes a farm track. Continue along this track until you reach the tarmac road. Turn left onto the road, and head uphill back to the car park (S/E).
