HOTBANK CRAGS Traditional Cache
Workyticket: As there appears to have been no response from the CO we are archiving this cache listing to prevent it from continually showing up in search lists and to prevent it from blocking other cache placements in the area. Once a cache is archived for non-responsiveness (including the cache page) it can't be unarchived.
Drew and Kaz
Workyticket
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A moderate hike from Housesteads Fort with a couple of ups and downs or follow the low path (the Military Way) for an easier walk – the views are tremendous 360 degrees along the higher path along by the Wall.
Approaching from Housesteads car park follow the Wall from Housesteads Fort off to the left through the pine grove. At this point the ‘Clayton Wall’ has been specially reconstructed to allow visitors to stride upon a gravelled surface and sense the Wall patrol, although modern thinking is that a patrol walkway running along the Wall behind the crenellations is a misconception. The path slips through the ‘nick without a name’ and climbs onto Cuddy’s Crag, possibly named after a medieval shepherd – Cuddy being a pet form of Cuthbert. The ragged Whin Sill now veers left to enter Rapishaw Gap where the Pennine Way departs from Hadrian’s Wall over Haughton Common towards Wark forest.
From Rapishaw Gap cross the ladder stile and walk along a fine stretch of undulating Clayton Walling passing the sites of two lost turrets. As Whinshields Crags comes into view ahead, a branch path bears half left above a walled plantation on Hotbank Crags. ‘Hot’ meant ‘a ring of trees’ – might this suggest a religious site or the surrounds (now lost) of a Roman lime kiln? As the Wall shapes to descent there is the most superb view west to Crag Lough overlooked by Highshields Crags, then to Peel Crags and Whinshields Crags.
REMEMBER TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO CLAMBER ONTO THE WALL TO GET A BETTER PHOTO – THE DRY STONE WALL IS VERY VULNERABLE.
Looking north you can see Greenlee Lough, the largest body of fresh water in Northumberland - it is a National Nature Reserve owned by the Northumberland National Park.
Should you traverse beyond the cache location the path sweeps down past Milecastle 38, alongside a field wall bending right to a ladder stile into Milking Gap. The farm access track slices through a natural nick in the scarp. The Gap name alludes to the historic use of this one weakness in the Sill by cattle drovers.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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