Popular Towns & Cities
Haltwhistle – 1.7 miles
Hexham – 16 miles
Newcastle – 35 miles
Carlisle – 20 miles
Hadrian’s Wall
Bridge House is a mere half a mile from one of the most spectacular and dramatic stretches of Hadrian’s Wall and as such is an ideal base from which to visit the many historic sites and attractions it has to offer.
This area presents some of the best walking in Hadrian’s Wall Country with a varied selection of walks taking in many of the historic sites and attractions all set amidst stunning scenery.
Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail is an unbroken 84-mile signposted trail stretching from coast-to-coast, from Wallsend in the East to Bowness-on-Solway in the West.
Find everything you need to plan your journey
The Pennine Way
You may not know that Britain’s first national trail, the 268-mile Pennine Way, follows the Hadrian’s Wall Path for 22 miles, joining at Pow Charney Burn and breaking away at Rapishaw Gap. This dramatic and varied trail starts at Edale in the Peak District, reaching North all the way to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders.
Find out more about the Pennine Way here
Cawfields
Cawfields, once a quarry that sourced hard whinstone for road building projects across the country, is now filled with a deep lake and creates a picturesque spot, perfect for a picnic. Cawfields Quarry is a 10-15 minute walk from Bridge House.
Cawfields has also been designated as a ‘Dark Sky Discovery site’ – nominated as of the best places in the UK to view the night sky, free from light pollution of nearby urban areas.
Read more about Dark Sky Discovery
Steel Rigg Milecastle
One of the most famous sections of Hadrian’s Wall is Steel Rigg. Made famous by the film ‘Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’, it was formerly the site of the iconic tree at Sycamore Gap. It’s also a very accessible part of the Roman wall, with Steel Rigg car park allowing access over just a few paces.
The Sill – National Landscape Discovery Centre
Just a 5-minute drive from us, The Sill is an impressive eco-conscious building which acts as the centre for all National Park activities. With a cafe, a well-stocked shop for locally-produced souvenirs, rooftop grass walk, regular exhibitions and activities for all ages, it’s well worth a visit. It’s a good base for a circular walk encompassing Steel Rigg and Roman Vindolanda.
Roman Sites
There are a number of significant Roman Army sites very near to Bridge House. Here are a selection with links to their sites for further reading.
Vindolanda – 2.9 miles
Roman Army Museum – 3 miles
Housesteads Roman Fort – 5.3 miles
Chesters Roman Fort – 13.2 miles
Hadrian’s Cycleway
Route 72 – Hadrian’s Cycleway is a 160 mile cycling route the stretches the entire length of the wall and beyond, from Ravenglass on the Cumbrian coast to Tynemouth near Newcastle.
Northumberland Climbing
If climbing is your thing, Bridge House is a great base to explore three fantastic spots at Peel Crag, Crag Lough and Queen’s Crag, where quality Trad and highball Bouldering can be found. We have a number of guidebooks which can be borrowed for the day. Even if you get rained off the crag, you can get your fix at Eden Rock Carlisle, one of the UK’s largest dedicated indoor bouldering centres which is a mere 30-minute drive away.
Haltwhistle Burn Footpath
A truly stunning short walk leading straight into Haltwhistle town lies right on our doorstep. The sound of the Burn’s rushing waters, its lush green banks teeming with plant and bird life, dramatic rock formations and curious relics of an industrial past are all found along the Haltwhistle Burn Path. Beautiful at all times of year, the terrain is mixed, but this walk is well worth a try, if only to enjoy a coffee or a pint to reward yourself in one of Haltwhistle’s cosy pubs or cafes. From Bridge House, you can join the footpath by walking West along the Military Road for around 5 minutes. Remember to take care along this road, as there is no pavement and drivers are known to exceed speed limits.
Find the exact route here
Find out more about the Haltwhistle Burn here
Find more information on points of interest along the way
