Discover: An inspiring journey along Hadrian’s Wall
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Date posted: 27/03/2025
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Time to read: 3 mins
Rich in historic and natural beauty, Northumberland National Park offers a unique setting for adventure and discovery. From pathways to new places to exciting green careers, Julie Phillip shares an inspiring journey with young explorers.
I’m Julie Phillips, the Green Pathways Officer for Northumberland National Park. The Green Pathways project is dedicated to creating routes and opportunities for young people to pursue careers in the green sector, such as land management, conservation and environmental work.
In my role, I raise awareness of these pathways by delivering sessions, attending careers fairs and school assemblies, building valuable partnerships and managing our online hub. Additionally, I identify and develop opportunities for young people to gain practical skills and experience to enhance their employability for future roles.
Navigating unfamiliar terrain
Alongside my Green Pathways role, I’m also a Duke of Edinburgh and Explorer Scout leader. With Hadrian’s Wall right on our doorstep, we’ve done a variety of exciting day hikes and training along the Wall, starting with Beavers at 6 years old to older explorer scouts who are 14-18 years old.
On a recent outing, I was on Hadrian’s Wall leading an older group of explorer scouts who were taking part in a navigation session as part of their training. We wanted to develop and challenge the scouts, so we decided to explore unfamiliar terrain.
We started at Housesteads Roman Fort, following the snaking Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trial and then onto the Pennine Way National Trail, before dropping down beyond the Wall. Next, we made our way through farmland and grazing cattle which was very boggy underfoot. Excitingly, it was here we discovered an old lime kiln, hinting at the historic use of the land years before. From here, we carried on along the Pennine Way, heading up towards Wark Forest. Here, the sudden change in terrain became difficult to navigate through because of all the heather.
A rocky discovery
Next on our journey, we went off the path towards Kings Crags behind Sewingshields. I asked the explorers to navigate toward micro features on the map – such as ridges or cliffs – without using any of the paths. They had to find their way over quite tricky terrain, involving a lot of tall, bouncy heather, which is when we made our next discovery – a group of fascinating, craggy, outcrops and lofts.
There were lots of hidden nooks and crannies here, including caves you could go into, and while we were sitting there for our lunch break, I sat there enjoying the wonderful views. Some of the young scouts went investigating the caves, and some were climbing up and sitting on the rocks.
This unique area offered perfect exploration opportunities for all, and not just for our group. We found evidence of others bouldering here, finding chalk marks you could trace. It was like discovering someone else’s best-kept secret.
A new adventure
We all found this outing particularly memorable; discovering new and unfamiliar sites in a place we thought we knew so well. It gave everyone a different perspective on our natural heritage and local landscape.
Our unexpected discoveries made me realise there are many more adventures to be had close to home. Following this outing, I was inspired to incorporate this walk and navigation training as part of the skills and taster days for the Green Pathways project, linking with events to mark the 60th anniversary of the Pennine Way. I’ve already been back with a friend to share this experience of discovery together.
Green Pathways is a project funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the North East Combined Authority Investment Fund with the North East Combined Authority as the Lead Authority
By Julie Phillips
Julie is the Green Pathways Officer for Northumberland National Park
It’s not every day you get to see one of our National Parks in biscuit form on @britishbakeoff!
Last night, The Great British Bake Off contestant @itsdoctoryan created a beautiful biscuit mosaic inspired by the Broads National Park, perfectly capturing the view at St Benet’s Mill, Thurne.
And it wasn’t just a feast for the eyes as the mosaic was made using treacle and ginger, honey and lemon, cocoa and malted milk, and pistachio biscuits.
Two great things combined: a beautiful National Park view and delicious biscuits. What could be better than that? 💚
Photo: Channel 4
#GBBO #BakeOff #NorfolkBroads @broadsnationalpark
You’ve likely heard of one - but what does it actually do?
Our 15 Parks wouldn’t be able to function without the authorities working behind the scenes to keep them running.
And each authority relies on people. People within the community, volunteers, staff and members. People that run businesses, or partner as organisations. People that are skilled and knowledgeable in a variety of areas from wildlife to accessibility.
Our National Parks are full of people and action, and it’s the Authorities that bring them all together.
💚
#NationalParksUK #NationalParkAuthorities
The Yorkshire Dales has one of the highest concentrations of caves and caverns of any of our 15 National Parks - a whole landscape hiding beneath the ground.
Our National Parks don’t just protect and preserve the landscapes we see every day. They also help care for historic and unique places discovered by our ancestors, like Ingleborough Cave and Gaping Gill, both of which were shrouded in myth and legend until they were explored by Victorians in the 1800s.
There’s so much more to our National Parks than meets the eye and sometimes, quite literally beneath the surface 👀
#YorkshireDales #GapingGill #Ingleborough
A week on from National Parks UK’s Big Volunteer Weekend, we’re still celebrating the people who make a difference across our National Parks.
Last weekend, hundreds of people came together across all 15 National Parks to give their time, share their skills and support our landscapes.
But volunteering in our National Parks doesn’t happen just one weekend a year. All year round, volunteers play an incredible variety of roles – from leading guided walks and supporting education, to conservation, planting and caring for our landscapes.
Every volunteer makes a valuable contribution to protecting our natural and cultural heritage. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you. 💚
So, to all our volunteers: thank you for your time, energy, enthusiasm and everything you bring to our National Parks.
If you know someone who volunteers in a National Park, help us spread the thanks by sharing this post. 🌿
#Volunteers #NationalParks #NationalParksUK
Mae’r Bele yn un o famaliaid prinnaf Cymru, ond mae eu niferoedd yn tyfu yn raddol. Mae hynny’n newyddion da i’n coetiroedd ac i’r Parciau Cenedlaethol, sy’n darparu rhai o’r cynefinoedd pwysicaf ar gyfer bywyd gwyllt ledled Cymru a Phrydain.
Ym Mannau Brycheiniog, mae’r prosiect adfer wedi gosod blychau nythu yn y coed, ac mae gwaith monitro wedi nodi presenoldeb y Bele, gan gynnwys grwpiau teuluol. Mae’r ffilm arbennig hon yn dangos un ohonynt ar waith. 🐾
Mae’n atgof hyfryd o’r hyn sy’n bosibl pan ddaw coetiroedd iach a gwaith cadwraeth arbenigol at ei gilydd i roi’r gofod sydd ei angen ar rywogaethau prin i wella.
Pine Martens are one of Wales’ rarest mammals, but they’re slowly making a comeback. That’s good news for our woodlands, and for National Parks, which provide some of the most important habitats for wildlife across Wales and Britain.
In Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), the recovery project has installed treetop den boxes, with monitoring identifying pine martens, including family groups. This special footage shows one in action. 🐾
It’s a lovely reminder of what can happen when healthy woodlands and specialist conservation work come together to give rare species the space they need to recover.
#BreconBeacons #BannauBrycheiniog #PineMartins #Wales
It’s the Autumn Equinox 🍂
Our National Parks are always changing in time with the rhythm of nature, but this becomes particularly noticeable when autumn arrives.
Deer begin to rut, spiders’ cobwebs glisten in the fresh light, fungi become more prominent, and leaves begin to change colour.
What changes have you noticed so far? 🧡
#Autumn #AutumnEquinox #NationalParks
“You look after the National Park not for yourself, but for people who are coming, the ones who are following you.”
These are the words of Ron Wood, who has been volunteering for the Lake District National Park for over 60 years. His story reflects the vital role volunteering plays across our National Parks: keeping them thriving, communities invested, and people connected to and caring for our landscapes.
Over the decades, Ron’s incredible journey has seen him remain steadfast in his commitment through droughts, hand, foot and mouth disease, and the ever-changing rhythms of nature. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: his dedication to looking after the environment for those who come after him.
You can read Ron`s full story by clicking the link in our bio or learn more about volunteering at nationalparks.uk/volunteering 🔗
📸Photos by @lakedistrictnpa
#LakeDistrict #Volunteering #NationalParks
A quiet autumn transformation is beginning to take place. 🍁
Bracken gradually fades to burnt oranges. Mist sweeps across the horizon. Grasses brown and trees begin their annual shaking of leaves.
Our National Parks are never still. They are constantly changing and transforming with the seasons - a living rhythm of growth, decay, colour and renewal.
These four photographs perfectly capture our Parks on the cusp of autumn 📸
1. Dartmoor @ryanbrowningphotography
2. Lake District @jonny.gios
3. New Forest @acornsandscapes
4. Northumberland @calbrownphoto
#Autumn #NationalParksUK
