Northumberland National Park in England, Scotland, United Kingdom - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-24. Check linked official notices before travel.

Northumberland National Park runs from Hadrian’s Wall country to the Cheviot Hills on England’s side of the Scottish border. Roman remains, exposed uplands, and working border valleys shape very different days out. Start near The Sill for a visit focused on the Wall, or choose a northern valley for hillwalking. The national park does not include the Northumberland coast, and most of Kielder Forest lies outside its boundary.

Highlights from Hadrian’s Wall to the Cheviots

• Hadrian’s Wall country: follow an official walking route across the crags, with separate arrangements for any staffed Roman attraction.
• The Sill: explore landscape exhibitions and the grassland roof near Bardon Mill.
• The Cheviots and border valleys: choose an upland route that fits your navigation skills and the day’s weather.
• Otterburn’s moorland: understand the military access zones before considering any route through the training estate.

Know before exploring Northumberland

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Parking tariffs differ between sites. Consult the authority’s car park listings for your actual starting point. Overnight parking at The Sill does not allow sleeping in a vehicle or camping.

Military ranges and upland safety

For the controlled Otterburn ranges, check the official access guidance and firing information before setting off. Stay out of closed areas, obey red flags and lamps, and use only the routes allowed by the access map. Do not touch military debris. Training can continue outside published live-firing times, so an apparently quiet landscape is not proof of unrestricted access.

Take warm and waterproof clothing, food, water, and a suitable route map. Weather can change rapidly in the hills. Be ready to choose another route if storm damage or poor conditions affect your plan.

Care for a working landscape

Leave farm and emergency access clear, and use a different destination if a car park is full. Remove all litter. The national park authority asks visitors not to bring barbecues because of the fire risk. Keep dogs under control and follow livestock and local access signs.

Overnight stays and activity permissions

Use an established campsite and book directly with its operator. England’s open-access right does not generally include camping, cycling, horse riding, or water sports; each activity needs the appropriate route right or permission. Follow the government’s open-access guidance rather than treating the park boundary as blanket permission.

Check booking requirements with the operator of any guided activity or Roman attraction you intend to visit. The Sill’s parking payment is made on arrival.

Location, maps, and starting points

The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre is at Bardon Mill, NE47 7AN. Its road directions use the A69 and signs for Hadrian’s Wall, with approaches via the B6318. Download the relevant walking route and carry a detailed map. The authority’s Eastburn address in Hexham is an office, not a single park entrance.

Nearby protected landscapes

Northumberland Coast National Landscape is an alternative east of the Cheviot side of the park for coastal walks. From Hadrian’s Wall country, consider North Pennines National Landscape to the south. Select a named village or visitor site for your road journey; the practical choice depends on which part of this long national park you are leaving.

Walking, landscape interpretation, and history

Use The Sill as a starting point for learning how geology and people shaped the border landscape. Its exhibitions, cafe, and shop provide an indoor option when a longer hill walk is unsuitable. Pair that visit with one of the authority’s downloadable walking routes rather than assuming every track across the hills is a public route.

Hadrian’s Wall and the Cheviot uplands serve different interests. Choose the Wall for a visit centered on Roman history; choose the northern hills when your group wants an upland walk and can prepare for more exposed terrain.

Visitor centers and practical facilities

The Sill has accessible indoor toilets, including a Changing Places facility, and designated Blue Badge parking near its entrance. Parking charges apply to Blue Badge holders. Assistance dogs are welcome inside; other dogs cannot enter the building or grassland roof. They can use other outdoor spaces.

The authority lists public toilets at Walltown, Cawfields, The Sill, and Alwinton. Confirm the facilities and opening arrangements at your chosen stop instead of relying on a service elsewhere in the park. The Sill visitor information gives its location and facilities.

About Northumberland National Park

Roman heritage and national park designation

The park was designated in 1956. Its boundary brought Hadrian’s Wall, the Cheviot uplands, and historic border valleys into one protected landscape. The national park authority took its present independent form in 1997; it owns only a small part of the land within the boundary.

Moorland birds and habitat

Otterburn’s moorland supports birds such as curlew, skylark, and raven, alongside wild goats. Wildlife interest does not make the training estate freely accessible. Observe from an authorized route, and leave birds and other animals undisturbed.

Contact and visitor advice

Northumberland National Park Authority: 01434 605555. The Sill: 01434 341200. Use the official visitor information for route updates and other visitor centers. The authority’s office is at Eastburn, South Park, Hexham, NE46 1BS.