Hikes & Walks in Northumberland
England, United Kingdom
Sparsely populated and home to England’s largest forest and countless empty beaches, Northumberland is a walker’s paradise. With a startling quality of heather, moors, hills and coastline, it’s often hard to know where to begin, particularly if you’re only stopping for a few days. Have a look at some of the best walks in Northumberland for this very reason, so it’s time to stop deliberating and get your boots on.
The 10 most beautiful hikes in Northumberland County
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Open the Route PlannerGet to know the Northumberland National Park
A fourth of Northumberland is part of the popular national park. Sparsely populated today, archaeologists found evidence of people living there over 10,000 years ago. Besides its great history, Northumberland National Park is especially popular among hikers and walkers because of its landscape. Plenty of hills and mountain ranges shape the regions nature.
- One of its most popular elevations is the Cheviot Hills including the 815 m high Cheviot mountain. The routes here are more on the challenging side, so prepare to find some magnificent views on every mountain top.
- The Pennine Way is one of the best ways to explore the national park. The path is Great Britain’s oldest long-distance walk, and you could even walk from Edale, Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm, which is about 435 km.
- In the north of Northumberland National Park, the historic Hadrian’s Wall runs along the border of Scotland. To go on a sort of time travel, you can follow the official walkway between Carlisle and Newcastle upon Tyne.
- The Simonside Hills are also a perfect place to hike and walk. There is a selection of well-maintained routes suitable for different types of abilities. Miles and miles of paths are free to access with a starting point close to you, so you don’t have to drive far but start your adventure right away.
What remains of Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s Wall is one of ancient Britannia’s greatest monuments. Built to form a border from coast to coast, occupied by soldiers of the Roman Empire. Beginning in 122 AD, it took six years to complete the 73-mile barrier across the country from Solway Bay to Wallsend on the Tyne. More than 80 so-called milecastles, two observation towers and 17 larger forts were along its wall. After the Romans left Britain 300 years later, most of the wall fell into decay or was used to build local buildings and houses. The ancient monument legislation in 1913 included most areas of the Great Wall under national protection and became a world heritage site in 1987.
The remains of the wall make a great guideline for your walks. Its history makes it a unique destination especially for families to combine learning about the UK’s past and exploring the outdoors. Together with your loved ones, follow the footpaths of the Romans from Berwick-upon-Tweed as far as your feet will carry you.
Our "Best of" Itinerary, as featured in The Telegraph, is five invigorating walking days that take in the best sections of the iconic Hadrian's wall! It's ideally suited to those who are simply on a ...
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