Trifter

THE Northumberland National Park offers the visitor some breathtaking scenery. Some of the most stunning is at its southern limit along Hadrian’s Wall. The Walltown Quarry recreational Site provides the ideal base for exploring this historical and spectacular landscape.

There is evidence of human habitation going back to the Celts of 500BC. Later the Romans, who built the Wall, were supplanted by the Angles. The area was criss0crossed by raiding border reivers throughout the Middle Ages.

There has been consultation with all the major user groups to ensure that every visitor can really enjoy Walltown and the network of paths have been extensively extended. Two National trails, the Pennine Way and the Hadrian’s Wall Path, both marked with the black acorn sign, pass through Walltown.

Many interesting cycle routes use Walltown as their starting point and there are lockable bike boxes to keep cycles safe on site.

As well as walks and cycle rides, visitors can follow themed trails, enjoy the wildlife or simply just have a picnic at one of the many benches that are scattered around the site.

Many visitors use the Hadrian’s Wall Bus service to take bus rides that are further afield. This service has an information line on 01434 322002.

The harder and longer walks can be accessed by talking this bus to Housesteads, Once Brewed National Park Information Centre or Cawfields and walking back from along the spectacular cliffs of the cental wall country.

People who prefer the shorter or easier routes often take the bus Birdoswald or Banks Turret and follow the slightly gentler Hadrian’s Wall Path east.

There are number of interesting places to visit in the vicinity of Walltown. The nearby Walltown Crags site has a renovated section of the roman wall for visitors to examine before going into the Museum of the roman Army.

Thirlwall castle is a fascinating ruined stronghold from the Middle Ages. Greenhead Village is the ideal place to obtain refreshments.                           

Walltown’s major themed trails are the Clue trail, which is a seek and find footpath designed for the six to nine year olds and lasting about three-quarters of a hour and the Hard Rock trail that is suitable for anyone who is interested in the earth and its processes and again takes about three-quarters of a hour to complete.

There are orienteering courses run at Walltown. These are short and simple schedules that are suitable for accompanied seven year olds and above, They can be completed in 15 minutes but normally take double that time.

The site has facilities for educational and community visits and the education officers cab supply more details on 01434 611520. There is a Walltown Education Park which gives details of pre and post visit activities and allows visitors to guide themselves around the site.

Though Walltown is still mainly a natural unimproved area, most of it is accessible to wheelchair and pushchair uses, though assistance is often required on the steeper gradients. It is also an exposed site and warm clothing is recommended during the winter moths.

Walltown can be reached along a minor road about one mile east of Greenhead on the B6318 or Military Road.