We are extremely sad to say that the beautiful old sycamore tree at Sycamore Gap was deliberately felled on 27/8/23. The walk is still beautiful and worth doing for the views and of course Hadrian's Wall, but the jewel in the crown has been lost.
The lone tree at Sycamore Gap is the most photographed tree in the country. It sits in the gap between two steep sections of Hadrian’s Wall, creating a truly captivating scene. And if it looks familiar, it might be because you’ve seen it in the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves movie, which is how it got its nickname, the ‘Robin Hood Tree’.
Although there are various routes to get to Sycamore Gap, we’d highly recommend the short trail from Steel Rigg, which takes you along a well preserved stretch of Hadrian’s Wall with simply stunning views. In fact, it’s our favourite walk in Northumberland so far!
In this guide, we’re sharing the quickest route to reach Sycamore Gap, as well as a sightly longer scenic version if you also want to enjoy walking along Hadrian’s Wall.
5 things to know before visitng Sycamore Gap
1. There are various walking routes to get there
You can walk to Sycamore Gap from a number of different places, including the shortest route from Steel Rigg, as well as Once Brewed car park, The Sill and Housesteads Roman Fort. There are options for circular and one way walks, using the Hadrian’s Wall bus to get back - you can view the bus timetable here.
If you’re looking for the shortest route, then head to Steel Rigg car park and follow our instructions below. However, even from Steel Rigg there are a couple of different options depending on whether you’re up for a few hills or not (more on that later in the post).
2. You can see it from the road but….
…If you don’t have the time or aren’t in a position to walk to Sycamore Gap, you can see the tree from the road, but it’s quite a distant view. You’ll see it from Military Road - the B6318.
However, it’s worth noting that there are no lay-bys to stop at and no safe way to pull fully off the road. This is more of a drive by quick peek type option. If you want a photo, make sure to have your camera ready to zoom in, so you can try and catch it as well as possible.
3. No walk to the tree is flat
The nature of the paths around Hadian’s Wall is that they tend to undulate. If you’re planning to visit from Steel Rigg car park, then you can take a trail that avoids most of the hills, but it’s not very scenic. The flatter routes also tend to be the muddiest if it’s been wet.
We visited in August and the lower path was reeeeally boggy in places. If you can walk up and down several short but steep staircases, you are better off walking the hillier route, which is also the most scenic (and the least boggy). In fact, it’s totally stunning and would be a wonderful walk even if it didn’t lead to Sycamore Gap.
The good news is that the walks that require slightly more effort also showcase some fabulous parts of Hadrian’s Wall, which make them even more worthwhile.
4. It gets really busy
It’s easy to see why everyone loves Sycamore Gap; it really is incredibly beautiful. It definitely exceeded all my expectations. If you just want to enjoy looking at the tree, then it doesn’t matter terribly about crowds.
However, if you’re looking to take photos then you want to time your visit very carefully. I’ll preface this by saying we did visit in the summer holidays, but I imagine it will be similar on sunny weekends and during other school holidays.
We arrived at the tree at about 4.40pm and there were quite a few people around. The problem with this spot is not so much that there are people around, but that people like to sit beneath the tree itself and stay there for quite a while. We waited for a few families for around 30 minutes before deciding to finish the rest of the walk and loop back to the tree.
We got back about an hour later and we had around ten minutes alone at the tree before people came to picnic beneath it. We waited for an hour, but there were always people sitting under the tree.
Therefore, if you are visiting during peak periods, we’d recommend coming early or late - probably after 8pm in summer if you want a really good chance of getting it to yourself. It would also make for an amazing astrophotography spot - something we’d like to come back and try in winter.
5. The best view is from the mound
Almost everyone we saw stood just in front of the tree and took photos from very close up. It’s great from close up, but the most special views and the only one that showcases the tree in the gap itself, are from the mound a few minutes walk from the tree.
There are various paths up the mound, some are much steeper than others, so if you don’t like the look of the first one you see then walk to the sides where you’ll find shallower routes. None are proper paths as such, but footprints over time have worn into the dirt and created good footholds. It takes less than two minutes to climb up, but if it’s been wet you’d ideally want shoes with a bit of grip.
The view from the mound is really stunning and there are a few rocks you can sit on to really take it all in.
If you want to get the full curvature of the hills, then you’ll either need to take a really wide photo (like a pano on your phone) or walk beyond the mound to get the two surrounding hills in shot.
Our second favourite view was actually from the other side of the tree and not one we saw anyone ever photograph. From the tree you climb over the wall onto the next section of track.
If you walk for a short distance along the trail you can look back on the tree and get a totally different perspective, with the wall much more prominent on either side of the tree.
The shortest walk to Sycamore Gap
The stats
Distance: 0.8 miles (1.3km) one way
Elevation gain: 60m
Difficulty: Easy, or easy - moderate depending on which route you take
Summary: The walk to Sycamore Gap from Steel Rigg car park has three possible paths. The most scenic, which involves climbing several short but steep hills, the Military Way route which has far less in the way of hills, but offers little in the way of views (and can get muddy after rain), and the lower route, which is the flattest option, but can get unbelievably boggy after rain, offers little in the way of views and involves walking along a section of road to get back to the car park.
Our recommend is to take the scenic hillier route to the tree (the blue route on our map below) and then the Military Way route back if you are feeling tired, or if you’re visiting during a dry spell. Otherwise the hilly route both ways is by far the nicest.
We took the hilly route and then walked a little further for some more great views before looping back via the Military Way path. It took us 30 minutes to reach the tree at a leisurely pace. It’s a bit quicker coming back if you take the flatter path.
Starting the trail to Sycamore Gap
From the Steel Rigg car park you’ll head along the gravel path and then pass through the gate which is signposted as ‘Steel Rigg’.
It’s only 150m from the car park to the first good view of the track, with a steep limestone cliff directly ahead of you.
From here you choose your path. The scenic and hillier route climbs the limestone cliff along a well maintained path. To take either the middle or lower path you’ll instead bear right.
However, as mentioned we don’t recommend this unless you reeeeally don’t want to climb any hills.
The first hill lasts for 100m and though it’s steep, the track is well formed and not in the least bit slippery when dry.
The views looking down over Hadrian’s Wall from above are fantastic and we were lucky to have some heather in bloom on the cliff side, which added even more beauty to the scene.
After you reach the top of the first climb the path heads through the gate and then hugs the wall - you get to walk right alongside it for several hundred metres.
Despite the fact we were walking after prolonged heavy rain, the path had barely any mud at all, which was a shock to us - and even more surprising when we saw how bad the lower trails were.
Walking along Hadrian’s Wall
The path is flat and easy and you’ll have some great views. After 500m you’ll begin heading downhill, the path is relatively steep, but on flat stones which are a bit like paving slabs and quite easy to walk on.
It’s only 50m of descending before you begin climbing up the next hill.
This is a dirt path but shallower and you’ll be at the top within minutes. You get a wonderful view from the top, with a small tarn and a birds-eye view of Milecastle 39 - part of the defences on Hadrian’s Wall.
You’ll then have another 50m descent, this time it’s less steep and on good paving before, you guessed it, you begin immediately ascending the next hill.
This is also on good paving and lasts a mere 50m - you’re probably noticing a theme here. It may have hills to climb, but they’re very short and oh so worth it.
You’ll ascend another short sharp hill before a 50m flat stretch along a path right beside the wall.
At the end of this flat stretch you’ll look down over the wall and get your first view of the famous tree.
Reaching Sycamore Gap - the Hadrian’s Wall tree
The descent to the Sycamore Gap is roughly the same distance as the other descents, but it is steeper and the terrain is more uneven. Some of the rocks are smaller and therefore you have to be more careful with your footing.
It’s not hard, but you have to take it a bit more slowly and it would definitely be a bit trickier if the rocks were wet. Having said that, we saw families of all ages getting down with no trouble at all.
You’ll then arrive at the foot of the tree itself. It’s a real beauty, with the wall rising steeply on either side of it.
It’s thought to be several hundred years old and is often referred to as the ‘Robin Hood Tree’ after starring in the movie and clearly capturing people’s imaginations.
As mentioned above, the best view of the tree is actually from the mound, a few minutes walk away, as this is where you can really get an idea of its setting, nestled in the gap between two steep sections of the wall.
An optional detour (for more great views)
If you have time you can extend the circuit by continuing up the hill that rises to the right of the tree.
Even if you don’t want to walk much further, it’s worth climbing even a little way up the next hill for another great view of the tree.
This hill is slightly longer than the others, but only fractionally and the path is good.
You then have a glorious 500m stretch of flat track, with some fabulous views of the sheer cliff walls and a deep blue lake below.
The weather turned for us at this point and the sky darkened to the point it almost felt like dusk, but even that couldn’t diminish the beauty of the area.
Towards the end of this flat stretch of track, you’ll enter a small patch of woodland and the next 400m is a gentle descent to a gate, at which point you want to head right (through the gate).
You’ll walk very briefly along a wide gravel path before taking a right at the footpath sign. It’s a narrow track uphill and was muddy when we visited, but it only takes a minute before it becomes a grassy path.
This grassy track will gradually ascend, taking you through some fields. After 300m you’ll climb over a stile and then you’ll enter a field of cows - never my favourite but they kept to themselves.
The path will flatten and then descend to a second stile 550m later. You will descend a little further before arriving back at Sycamore Gap.
Completing the circuit
If you don’t want to retrace your steps back over those original hills, then you can take the path which heads between the wall and the mound (Military Way). However, be warned: if it’s been very wet, then this trail is a bit of a mess.
It’s not as bad as the lower trail you’ll see running beneath it - which was almost a stream on our visit - but it’s still very muddy. It’s a lot flatter, but has no views to speak of and unless it’s been nice and dry you definitely want hiking shoes to stand a chance of not completely flooding your trainers.
Whilst the path is not signposted, it is easy to follow. It’s a gentle climb for the first 600m and then a gentle descent on a rocky path which narrows to a wet gully - but surprisingly it wasn’t slippery.
The descent is around 300m before you’ll start ascending again. You’ll reach a large wooden gate and the other side of this is where the mud got really bad.
Luckily there are small rocks to use as stepping stones and then the path gets a lot better as you bear right, climbing up the grassy hill.
You’ll soon come to another small wooden gate on the right and once you pass through it, the mud all but disappears.
You’re now back on the original path and the track climbs gently up the hill until you reach the flat gravel path again, 100m later.
The car park is just 150m away. Despite the muddy ending, we loved this walk and it’s definitely got me excited for more walks along Hadrian’s Wall in the future.
Steel Rigg parking info
Steel Rigg is actually quite a small car park and spaces are narrow, which is another reason to avoid peak periods if you can. It’s also worth noting that when we visited the meter would not accept cards - it said it did, but not one person in the whole car park had any luck. In case this has not been remedied, it’s worth bringing coins.
The current charges at the car park are £4 for up to 3 hours, with additional time charged at £2 an hour. You can get 15 minutes parking for free, but even Mo Farah couldn’t get to Sycamore Gap and back in that time.
Charges apply all day everyday and even though the area is jointly managed by the National Trust, the car park is not run by the NT and therefore not free for members.
There are no toilets or any facilities whatsoever at the car park. The nearest facilities would be The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre. You can also walk to Sycamore Gap from here if you want a longer trail.
Getting to the Steel Rigg car park
The Steel Rigg car park is located near the village of Haltwhistle in Northumberland, just under a 40 minute drive from Carlisle, 45 minutes from Newcastle and 1 hour from Durham. The Hadrian’s Wall bus stops at Steel Rigg car park, you can find the timetable here. The bus has departures from Hexham, where there is also a train station if you’re coming from further afield.
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