Thirlwall Castle

Thirlwall Castle

A pleasant walk from Greenhead to the remains of Thirlwall Castle and through Walltown.

Grade: Easy
Length: 1.7 miles (2.8km).

Points of interest

Life in Northumberland between 1300 and 1600 was dangerous and unstable. Important families such as the Thirlwalls protected themselves against attack by building strong defensible homes like the one here at Thirlwall Castle.

Legend has it that during a particularly violent raid, the Thirlwall family’s most prized possession, a jewel-encrusted gold table, was hidden by a servant down a deep well where he and the table remain to this day, protected by a magic spell!

Carvoran Roman Army Museum is well worth a visit for its unique collection of artefacts illustrating what life was like for Roman soldiers and a fascinating Eagle’s Eye film taking in points of interest along the Wall (open from Easter to October).

Local facilities

A farmers market (Hadrian’s Wall Market) is held in Greenhead Village Hall the second Sunday of every month.The Greenhead Hotel serves real ales and good food.The Old Forge Tearooms provides food and delicious home made cakes. Thirlwall Castle Tearooms offer farmhouse teas and lunches in the farmhouse next to the castle (open Easter to the end of October).

Walltown National Park recreation site is a reclaimed Victorian Quarry with easy access paths and waymarked trails.Visitor facilities are available here and a Cafe (please check opening times first).

Download the Thirlwall Castle walk leaflet (PDF 1mb)

To view this document you may need to download a free copy of Adobe Reader.

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.