Driving Hadrian’s Wall: the Main Car Parks VI (Carrawburgh)

November 28, 2015December 25, 2015 / Mike Bishop

Carrawburgh (NNP)

Coordinates: N55.035646, W2.220416 Facilities: none

Carrawburgh car park is immediately next to the B6318 (the Military Road) so is pretty much impossible to miss, whether travelling from the east or west. It is another of the Northumberland National Park car parks for which a season ticket can be acquired; an ordinary ticket bought from the machine here can be used on that day at any of the other National Park car parks along the Wall.

Advice

Always be aware of the possibility of thieves operating in the car park. Follow signs for the Hadrian’s Wall Path to access sites to either side of Carrawburgh. Stout footwear is advisable. Access to the fort and museum is by a paved path.

Zone 1 (100m)

1. Carrawburgh fort

Zone 2 (500m)

2. The Temple of Mithras or mithraeum

Zone 4 (2 km)

3. Wall ditch Wall Mile 30

4. Limestone Corner

5. Vallum Wall Mile 30

Zone 5 (3km)

6. Curtain wall (between Limestone Corner and Black Carts)

7. Black Carts Turret

8. Milecastle 29

Driving Hadrian’s Wall: the Main Car Parks V (Housesteads)

November 21, 2015December 25, 2015 / Mike Bishop

Housesteads (NNP)

Coordinates: N55.009974, W2.322925 Facilities: toilets, picnic spot, refreshments, visitor centre

Housesteads car park is not only well-signposted on the B6318 (the Military Road) travelling from both the east and west, it is right next to the road, although – situated on a bend and at a slight crest – it can appear suddenly. This is another of the Northumberland National Park car parks for which a season ticket can be acquired; an ordinary ticket bought from the machine here can be used on that day at any of the other National Park car parks along the Wall.

Advice

Always be aware of the possibility of thieves operating in the car park. Follow signs for the Hadrian’s Wall Path to access sites to either side of Housesteads. Stout footwear is advisable. Access to the fort and museum is by a paved path.

Zone 3 (1km)

1. Housesteads museum and fort

2. Curtain wall Wall Mile 36

3. Knag Burn gateway

Zone 4 (2km)

4. Milecastle 37

5. Cuddy’s Crags classic viewpoint

6. Curtain wall Rapishaw Gap

7. Milecastle 36

8. Busy Gap ditch

Zone 5 (3km)

9. Curtain wall on Sewingshields Crags

10. Sewingshields Turret

11. Sewingshields Milecastle

Driving Hadrian’s Wall: the Main Car Parks IV (Steel Rigg)

November 14, 2015December 25, 2015 / Mike Bishop

Steel Rigg (NNP)

Coordinates: N55.002899, W2.391337 Facilities: picnic spot

Steel Rigg is well-signposted on the B6318 (the Military Road) travelling from both the east and west (the turning is opposite the turning for Vindolanda). This is another of the Northumberland National Park car parks for which a season ticket can be acquired; an ordinary ticket bought from the machine here can be used on that day at any of the other National Park car parks along the Wall.

Advice

Always be aware of the possibility of thieves operating in the car park. Follow signs for the Hadrian’s Wall Path to access sites to either side of Steel Rigg. Stout footwear is advisable. South and east of the car park is one of the finest stretches of ‘Claytonised’ curtain wall; please do not climb on it. In the event of very windy weather, or if you suffer from vertigo, the Military Way (4) makes an acceptable alternative route for reaching the points of interest.

Zone 2 (500m)

1. Curtain wall and ditch Wall Mile 39

2. Peel Gap turret

3. Curtain wall Peel Crags

4. Military Way

Zone 3 (1km)

5. Milecastle 40

Zone 4 (2km)

6. Milecastle 39

7. Mons Fabricius

8. Sycamore Gap

9. Curtain wall Sycamore Gap

Driving Hadrian’s Wall: the Main Car Parks III (Cawfields Quarry)

November 7, 2015December 25, 2015 / Mike Bishop

Cawfields Quarry (NNP)

Coordinates: N54.993100, W2.450701 Facilities: toilets, picnic spot

Cawfields Quarry is well-signposted on the B6318 (the Military Road) travelling from both the east and west (the turning is opposite the Milecastle Inn). This is another of the Northumberland National Park car parks for which a season ticket can be acquired; an ordinary ticket bought from the machine here can be used on that day at any of the other National Park car parks along the Wall.

Advice

Always be aware of the possibility of thieves operating in the car park. Follow signs for the Hadrian’s Wall Path to access sites to either side of Cawfields Quarry. Stout footwear is advisable.

Zone 1 (100m)

1. Wall ditch Wall Mile 42

Zone 2 (500m)

2. Milecastle 42

3. Vallum

4. Military Way

5. Curtain wall Wall Mile 41 (either way)

Zone 3 (1km)

6. Curtain Wall at Thorny Doors

7. Great Chesters fort

Zone 4 (2km)

8. Turret 41a

9. Milecastle 41

10. Milestone

Driving Hadrian’s Wall: the Main Car Parks II (Walltown Quarry)

November 1, 2015December 25, 2015 / Mike Bishop

Walltown Quarry (NNP)

Coordinates: N54.986800, W2.520391 Facilities: toilets, refreshments, picnic spot

Walltown Quarry (and the neighbouring Roman Army Museum) is well-signposted on the B6318 (the Military Road) travelling from both the east and west (the turning is 800m east of Greenhead). This is one of the Northumberland National Park car parks for which a season ticket can be acquired, but an ordinary ticket bought from the machine here can be used on that day at any of the National Park car parks along the Wall. Note that the sites east of Walltown Quarry can also be accessed from the free car park at Walltown Crags.

Advice

Always be aware of the possibility of thieves operating in the car park. Follow signs for the Hadrian’s Wall Path to access sites to either side of Walltown Quarry. Stout footwear is advisable.