Northumberland
Winshield Crags
345M
1131FT
About Winshield Crags
Standing as the highest point on the legendary Hadrian’s Wall, Winshield Crags offers views so expansive the Romans likely felt it was a bit showy. It is a gentle rise from the south that suddenly turns into a dramatic dolerite cliff, perfect for overlooking the 'barbarian' north.
Key Statistics
Rank
104th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Cheviots
Prominence
?
102.9m
Nearest Town
Melkridge
Geology
You are walking on a hard ridge of cooled magma that sits atop layers of limestone, sandstone, and ancient mud.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY742675
Latitude
55.0014°N
Longitude
2.4049°W
Did You Know?
- •This fell is the true summit of the Whin Sill, a massive 295-million-year-old volcanic intrusion. The Romans strategically built their wall directly onto this natural rock rampart to save on building materials and intimidate the neighbours.
- •At 345 metres, this is the highest point of the entire 73-mile Hadrian's Wall trail. On a exceptionally clear day, you can see all the way from the Solway Firth to the jagged peaks of the Lake District.
- •The local rock is 'whinstone,' a quartz-dolerite so incredibly tough it was once used for paving sets in London. It is also tough enough to give your hiking boots a permanent identity crisis if you scuff them on the crag edge.
- •Because the Pennine Way and the Hadrian’s Wall Path cross over here, the area is a prime spot for 'hiker-spotting.' You can usually distinguish the two groups by how much they are limping and their level of gear-related regret.
- •The ascent is so deceptively gradual from the southern approach that you might walk right past the summit cairn without noticing. You will only truly know you have reached the top when the wind attempts to relocate your eyebrows to the next county.