Walwick Fell

Trip No.26  Entry No.1  Date Added: 22nd May 2017
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: England (Northumberland)
Visited: Yes on 21st May 2017. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Walwick Fell Farmstead, near Hexham: This settlement is not far from Tower Tye, where the Tynedale North of the Wall Archaeology Group used to meet before the surveys. Turning south on the un-named road towards Whinney Hill, we parked in a small layby at the edge of the wood on the east side of the road, opposite the gate into the field containing the settlement. The footpath runs diagonally north west across the field, with the settlement to the right hand side towards the top of the hill, but with bullocks grazing in the field, looking very interested in coming over to us, we gave them a wide berth and approached the settlement from the east.

The settlement appears as a series of defined banks on the slope of the hill, with gorse bushes to its south-western side.

In the wood behind the stone wall to the north of this settlement lies the remains of a Roman camp, but it has been so disturbed by forestry works it is not really possible to see anything.

There are the clear remains of two hut circles, with their foundations built into the back of the slope. The banks are all turf covered and easy to make out. The site has wonderful views to the west, south and east (south to the South Tyne Valley), although it is in a sheltered spot just below the brow of the hill.

Looking on UK Grid Finder when I got home, it is impressive how much of the site can be made out on the aerial image.

There is a well marked on the OS map in the lower part of the field, although it was not evident when we made our way back to the gate.