Yeavering Bell hillfort from the Gefrin lay-by

From the Gefrin lay-by on the B6351 the walk follows a footpath and lane to a track and then a path that climbs the north-west flank of Yeavering Bell. At the top, 361 m, it reaches the largest Iron Age hillfort in the region: the Northumberland National Park describes the tumbled stone rampart that once stood two and a half metres high, the platforms of more than a hundred timber roundhouses and an inner fort cut into the rock. The path leaves the fort on the south-west side and drops to St Cuthbert's Way, which it follows west, then a lane back north to the B6351 and the lay-by. A herd of wild goats lives on the hill, and the view runs over the Milfield Plain to the Cheviot Hills.

It is 5.9 km round with 316 m of ascent; allow about 2½ hours. The grade is Moderate: the distance is short but the climb on to the hill is steep and the way off the fort is on rough ground.

The north-west slopes are steep and bouldery, so take care on the way up and down. There is no shelter on the top and the hill is hard to navigate in cloud. Keep dogs on leads: wild goats and sheep graze the hill. The last part of the way back is on a lane and a short stretch of the B6351, so watch for traffic.

The National Park says to park at the Gefrin lay-by, on the north side of the B6351 between Wooler and Kirknewton just west of Yeavering; OpenStreetMap shows room for about four cars and the page names no charge. There is no station near; Berwick-upon-Tweed is about 24 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.