Hadrian's Wall and the Military Road

Cawfields QuarryWith expansive views in all directions, this walk takes in one of the best-preserved and most spectacular sections of Hadrian's Wall.

Grade: Moderate
Length: 4 miles (6km)

Points of interest

The Roman structure you pass near the start of this walk is Milecastle 42, built to protect Hole Gap, one of several weak points in the Roman Frontier defences.

Later in the walk you will cross another part of the Roman Frontier, the Vallum – a ditch (in some places a double ditch) with a mound either side.

The route also crosses the B6318, known as the Military Road. This road was built following the Jacobite rebellion of 1745 when the condition of the road between Newcastle and Carlisle was so poor that it prevented General George Wade moving his troops west to stop Bonnie Prince Charlie’s march from Scotland. After the uprising was suppressed a new road was built and has been known since then as the Military Road or Wade’s Road.

Along the route more recent signs of influence on the landscape are also visible in the whinstone (dolerite) quarry at Cawfields and shallow coal workings from the 18th century.

Download the Hadrian's Wall and the Military Road leaflet (PDF format, 853kb)

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GPS download

Download the GPS route for this walk (GPX format)

Please note: this GPS route has not been walked, and is only to be used as a guide. Always take the correct map with you.