Map: Sheet OL43 Hadrian's Wall
Start: Houseteads Car Park (NY793684)
Based on a walk from Great Walks of the National Parks, this walk follows Hadrian's Wall from Houseteads Fort to Hotbank Farm, then returns by a track parallel to the wall. The walk can be doubled in length by continuing along the wall to the car park at Steel Rigg (Grid ref NY751677).
Leave the car park and walk through the arch by the information centre. Pass through 2 gates and follow the path uphill. Walk between the museum (on your left) and the fort (on the right). Head for the gate and stile below a group of trees. Cross the stile, and where the path forks, go right, to meet Hadrian's Wall.
Milecastle 37 is soon passed. There is a choice of routes, one which remains close to the wall, the other, further south, evens out some of the ups and downs. The path joins the Pennine Way and continues to Hotbank Farm.
Turn right, to pass to the right of the Farm, and go through the gate ahead. Take the right fork at two path junctions. The track becomes less distinct, and runs alongside a derelict stone wall. It passes lime kilns
.
Continue walking in the same direction, crossing the Pennine Way. Further on, the path crosses a stile into a small plantation. The path is supposed to go straight through the middle of the plantation, but we found it easier to walk around the edge. Leave the plantation by another stile and continue ahead. You can see where the path rejoins Hadrian's Wall , but don't be tempted to cut the corner (especially if the weather has been wet). Turn right, close to the field boundary, where the path follows a raised area.
Cross the wall, and turn right. Follow the wall back to the fort, and then re-join the track to the car park.
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