Housesteads, Sewingshields Crags and Broomlee Lough

From the car park the walk climbs to Housesteads, the best-preserved fort on Hadrian's Wall, and turns east along the Wall past the Knag Burn gateway to King's Wicket. It follows the Wall along the edge of Sewingshields Crags to the trig point, then comes back to King's Wicket and heads west across the moor past Broomlee Lough. It rejoins the Wall at Rapishaw Gap, below Hotbank Crags, and follows it back east over Cuddy's Crags and Housesteads Crags, where the Wall rides the cliffs of the Whin Sill, to the fort.

It is 7.7 km with 233 m of ascent; allow about 2½ hours. The grade is Easy. The path along the Wall climbs and drops steeply over the crags.

Do not walk on the Wall itself. The crags have steep drops and the paths are slippery in the wet. The moor round Broomlee Lough can be boggy. Sheep and cattle graze here, so keep dogs on leads. Housesteads fort is run by English Heritage and charges for entry.

The Housesteads car park is run by the National Park and charges a fee. The nearest station is Bardon Mill, about 4 km away.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.