Cawfield Quarry | Exploring Northumberland
Living so close to Hadrian's Wall, it's only natural that we explore it as a family. Just over the border from our home county of Cumbria, the beautiful Northumberland National Park is home to some great spots to discover stretches of this famous wall; including Cawfield Quarry.
Cawfields offers one of the easiest milecastle you can reach by car, along with plenty of beautiful paths through the rolling countryside. Read on to find out more about this family friendly day out in Northumberland.
About Cawfield Quarry
The stunning home to one of the best preserved stretches of Hadrian's Wall began life at a working quarry, removing igneous bedrock from Whin Sill until 1952. That's right, just over 70 years ago this site was still a working quarry!
Now, the quarry is decommissioned. The large, deep pit where the quarry once stood is now filled and landscaped, offering a unique and beautiful reservoir and picnic spot.
Please note: Swimming is not permitted here due to extremely low water temperatures and hidden hazards.
Where can I park?
Set just off the old Roman military road (now known as the B6318) you will find the
There are 40 spaces available.
Parking costs between £2 - £10 depending on when you're parking and how long.
To find the car park, use this post code: NE49 9PJ
What is available at Cawfield Quarry?
Haltwhistle Burn
Behind the car park and running along the back of Cawfield Quarry is a small stream of water called Haltwhistle Burn. There are picnic benches, and a bridge. Here you can explore and enjoy time along the banks. Just be careful of the fast running water.
Hadrian's Wall Path
Cawfields boasts one of the most well persevered and highest standing stretches of Hadrian's Wall and makes up part of the famous Hadrian's Wall path. Here the wall sits on the edge of the sheer crags of Whin Sill. Along with Milecastle 42, this stretch of Hadrian's Wall was built to protect Hole Gap.
Want to explore more along the wall?
3.5 miles to the west along the wall is Steel Rigg (where you can head to Sycamore Gap for the famous ‘Robin Hood tree’ which features in the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves).
3.4 miles to the east along the wall is Walltown Quarry Country Park, which was still a working quarry just 47 years ago. Now it is a stunning reserve for wildlife where you can explore more of Hadrian's Wall along with Turret 45a (a.k.a Walltown Turret).
Milecastle 42
Set 10 metres south of Cawfield Crags, Milecastle 42 is a 10 minute, easy walk from the Cawfield Quarry car park. Excavations here were undertaken during 1847-48 and 1936. It has two turrets known as Turret 42a and Turret 42b buy only Turret 42b is visible as a turf-covered platform due to Turret 42a being destroyed by the quarrying at Cawfields.
The geocache
Tucked away inside Milecastle 42 is a hidden geocache, which was a great find for the girls who discovered the enjoyment of geocaching on local Cumbrian walks during the pandemic. If you visit, and find the geocache, don't forget to add your name and let me know you found it too!
Cawfield Quarry is a designated International Dark Sky Park
Did you know..? There are only twenty one International Dark Sky Reserves in the world, and the UK is home to one third of these!
If you're a fan of star gazing, this is a great spot to visit. In fact, on a clear night even the Andromeda Galaxy is visible.
FAQs about our family days out
Is it suitable for children and/or dogs?
The rolling countryside of the Northumberland National Park is always going to be a big yes from me when it comes to suitability for children and dogs. Cawfields is a fabulous spot to explore with your family, with footpaths, tracks, and road making it a quite easy route to enjoy. That being said, some areas can be extremely muddy, especially outside of the summer season. Bear this in mind when planning your outfits and footwear!
As always, please keep dogs on a lead if you plan to visit with your fur babies. There is livestock inxluding sheep and cattle which graze the fields along Hadrian’s Wall.
Are there facilities available?
Adjacent to the car park is a small building with facilities for public use. These include a small information point, fully accessible toilet, a wet room and changing facilities.
Is there anywhere to eat nearby?
There is no café or shop on the site itself. However, a short drive away you can find pubs and other spots in Twice Brewed, Hexham and more. If you wish to bring food with you, there are picnic benches available including one next to the toilet facilities under a shelter.
Don't forget to leave no trace! Always use the bins provided or take away your rubbish. Leave the site as you would wish to find it and protect the beauty of the Northumberland National Park.
Cawfield Quarry is a great place to explore no matter the day, or time of year. I hope this post gives you all the information you need in order to explore this site and Hadrian's Wall for yourself.
For more blog posts about exploring the beautiful outdoor spaces along Hadrian's Wall, check out the other blogs in my days out and travel blog. Have you found somewhere amazing to visit in the Northumberland? We love to explore new spots, so feel free to share in the comments below.
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