A walk over rolling country including a stretch of Hadrian’s Wall. Good examples of a milecastle and a turret on the wall can be seen.
Terrain – footpaths, tracks and road, may be muddy in places. Stiles, gates and steps on route.
Please keep dogs on a lead, livestock (sheep and cattle) graze the fields along Hadrian’s Wall.
Leave the car park by the path to the left of the lake. Go through the gate and head uphill and through the kissing gate.
Milecastles were small forts built every Roman mile along Hadrian’s Wall.
Keeping the wall on your left continue alongside the wall past Cawfield Crags, Thorny Doors and Turret 41a until you reach the road at Caw Gap.
Turn right along the road then left over a stile. Follow the fingerpost – signed Military Road – downhill to the Vallum. The Vallum is a large earthwork comprising a ditch with mounds either side of it which runs parallel to the wall just to the south of it.
Cross the Vallum using the footbridge and make for the left hand corner of the field wall ahead, then continue following the fence down to the Military Road.
Cross the road and continue along the minor road signed Melkridge until you reach Hallpeat Moss Farm on the right.
Just past the house cross over the ladder stile on the right into the meadow. Head diagonally across the field, go through the gate, cut across the corner of the next field and cross the stile.
Follow the path around the left hand side of the small valley and then head right to the stile in the wall.
Cross over the stile and head towards the trees on the skyline. Continue uphill until you reach a broad grassy track.
Turn left and follow the track along the ridge all the way until you reach the road.
Cross the stile by the gate and turn right along the road. Continue down the road until you reach the Milecastle Inn (good place for refreshments).
Cross the Military Road and continue along the minor road signed Whiteside and Cawfields to the left hand bend.
Take the bridleway on the right, through the gate, signed Milecastle 42 and cross the field to the Milecastle.
Follow the path back down to the car park.
The staring point for the walk is at Cawfields Quarry Car Park.
On the B6318 (Military Road), approx 1.5 miles west of the Sill Visitor Centre, turn right (north) onto a minor Road, signposted Walltown. Car Park is on the right after 1/4 mile
Grid Ref: NY 713 665
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