Wylam Walks - Near and Around
This pleasant riverside village is located in a lovely spot, a few miles west of Newcastle.
The interesting village has strong connections to the early years of the railway with pioneers George Stephenson and Timothy Hackworth born in the area. It's a popular place for walkers and cyclists with good surfaced trails along the river and the Hadrian's Wall Path running along the historic wall to the north of the village.
This circular walk from Wylam visits some of the highlights of the area including Stephenson's Cottage, the village of Heddon on the Wall, Hadrian's Wall Path, Vindobala Roman Fort, Whittle Dene Reservoir, Tyne Riverside Country Park and the neighbouring village of Ovingham.
The walk starts in the village and starts by heading east along the river to Stephenson's Cottage, the birthplace of railway pioneer, George Stephenson. It's now a National Trust property where you can learn all about his early life and the Stephenson gauge', the basis for the standard gauge used by most of the world's railways. He also designed the Locomotion No. 1, which was the first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public rail line, the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825.
Just after passing the cottage you turn north to follow countryside footpaths to Heddon on the Wall. Here you turn west to follow Hadrian's Wall to the Vindobala Roman Fort where there is an information board detailing the history of the site. The name Vindobala means “White Strength” with the troops recruited from a coastal tribe of Lower Germany. From here you continue west to Harlow Hill and the Whittle Dene Reservoir where there are lovely views across the water to the surrounding hills. A footpath then heads south to Welton Hall and Whittle Dene before coming to Ovingham village. Here you'll find the western end of the popular Tyne Riverside Country Park where there are nice trails and facilities. You then follow a riverside trail east to return to Wylam.
Wylam Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Wylam Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Wylam OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Wylam Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Boathouse is located in a lovely spot on the river next to Wylam Bridge and the train station. You can sit outside and enjoy views of the boats on the river if the weather is good. They serve good quality Thai food and have a decent selection of ales. You can find the pub at postcode NE41 8HR for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The country and woodland trails make for a fine dog walk and the Boathouse pub mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The circular Newburn to Wylam Walk takes you along both sides of the river. It starts from the car park at Newburn in the eastern section of the Tyne Riverside Park.
The Keelmans Way starts in the village. This will take you east along a shared cycling and walking path. It runs along the south side of the river to the upper reaches of the Tyne and the Derwent Walk Country Park in Gateshead.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Northumberland Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Wylam Green. Shows the location of a Victorian postbox, including the war memorial and the bridge over the River Tyne beyond.
The Wylam Wagonway. At one time this was the route of the road between Newcastle and Hexham, preceding both the Military Road and the A69. A waggonway linking Wylam colliery with the coal staithes at Lemington was built alongside it before 1763, one of the earliest on Tyneside. Wagons were drawn by horses along wooden rails. Iron rails and two steam locomotives made by William Hedley, Wylam Dilly and Puffing Billy were in use by 1815. George Stephenson was born by the waggonway and went on to develop further locomotives that were to revolutionise railways for passenger transport. The waggonway is now part of Hadrian's Way path, which turns right at this signpost, and a national cycle route.
George Stephenson's cottage. This small stone cottage, built around 1750, has earned a place in history by being the birthplace of railway pioneer George Stephenson. Stephenson was born here in 1781, and went on to make his name at nearby Wylam colliery. The cottage was once home to four pitmen's families, and the room in which Stephenson was born, and in which the whole family lived can be seen today, furnished in period style.
River Tyne below Wylam Bridge. The bridge is a wrought iron structure built by the Scotswood, Newburn and Wylam Railway Company in 1876 to link the North Wylam Loop with the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway. Many of the trains which used the bridge carried coal from the collieries at Newburn and Walbottle westwards to Carlisle. The line was closed in 1968 and the bridge later purchased by Northumberland County Council. It was restored in 1997 with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
War Memorial, Heddon on the Wall. The War Memorial was erected in 1922 to honour those men of the village who lost their lives in the Great War of 1914-1918. Names of those from the 1939-1945 War were added later. The small Memorial Park was built on a site originally occupied by the village pond, in memory of the two sons of Sir James and Lady Knott.
Vindobala Roman Fort, Rudchester
Whittle Dene Reservoir
Ovingham bridge