📌 Haltwhistle, Northumberland
★★★
This circular walk introduces the walker to the many different landscapes surrounding the village of Haltwhistle, which claims to be located at the geographical centre of Britain. The circuit has plenty of variety, starting with an attractive opening riverside section, followed by a remote and boggy trek across moorland (by far the toughest part), then a glorious stroll along Hadrian’s Wall, and finally a scenic path along wooded Haltwhistle Burn. At sixteen miles in length the route’s a bit of a whopper – take plenty of food as there aren’t any refreshment options en route.
📷 Chronological photo guide
River South Tyne at Haltwhistle 
View from Bellister Bank 
Featherstone Bridge 
Glen Cune 
War memorial near Maidenway House 
Road beyond Kellah 
Featherstone Common 
Gapshields trig point 
View north from Blenkinsopp Common 
Thirlwall Castle 
Tipalt Burn at Holmhead 
View back from the ascent to Walltown 
Walltown Quarry 
Hadrian’s Wall 
Walltown Crags from Turret 45A 
Saddle before Turret 44B 
View back from Turret 44B 
Descent across Cockmount Hill 
Aesica Roman Fort 
Haltwhistle Burn near Cawfields 
Crossing the B6318 
Haltwhistle Burn 
Haltwhistle Burn 
Haltwhistle Burn 
Haltwhistle
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on Lanty’s Lonnen, Haltwhistle town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NY 708641
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 54.970409,-2.457088
🚆🚌 Train / bus to Haltwhistle
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 25 km / 16 mi | ▲ 590 m | ⌛ 8-9 hr
Features: 🏠 Haltwhistle ★★; 💧 River South Tyne; 🏰 Thirlwall Castle ★; 🌳 Walltown Country Park; 🎖️ Hadrian’s Wall including Walltown Crags & Aesica ★★; 💧 Haltwhistle Burn
⬤⬤ Moderate to Tough | Route mostly on clear footpaths, some minor road sections. Busy A69 road must be crossed on Pennine Way. Section over Featherstone / Blenkinsopp Common has some extremely boggy spots (not recommended after wet weather), with areas where the path fades out, requiring navigation skills.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start & Haltwhistle – Featherstone Bridge via south side of River Tyne – cross bridge – Kellah – Pennine Way over Featherstone / Blenkinsopp Common to Thirlwall Castle – Walltown Country Park – Walltown Crags – Aesica Roman Fort – Haltwhisle Burn – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: River Tyne section: cormorants, herons, mallards, moorhens, grey wagtails. Farmland & woodland sections: cows, horses, sheep, pheasants, grey squirrel. Moorland section: many red grouse, a mouse, frogs, damselflies.
Weather: Sunny with a little cloud building, light winds, 20°C.
September 2023
