Northumberland Holiday Cottage

Old High Shield
Old High Shield

Old High Shield
High Shield
Bardon Mill
NE47 7AJ

Tel : 01434 340188
Old High Shield, lounge 3Old High Shield, bathroom 2Old High Shield, double roomOld High Shield, double 2
Old High Shield, bedroomOld High Shield, kitchenOld High Shield, fireplaceOld High Shield, lounge 2
Old High Shield, loungeOld High Shield, kitchenOld High Shield, doubleOld High Shield, bathroom
According to local records High Shield was occupied as a working farm from the late 1700s. There is evidence that this site was in use from a much earlier period, for example there is a medieval stacking stand in the field below which is still in use and aerial photography has revealed the footprints of two earlier dwellings.
High Shield was abandoned in the 1930s and the part that is now known as Old High Shield was then used as a byre until it was converted in 1999 to provide its current accommodation.
Old High Shield is a spacious single storey building providing self-catering holiday accommodation for two people. The views from the lounge, kitchen, bedroom and garden terrace are stunning, looking south over the excavations of Vindolanda half a mile below and up to Thorngrafton Common, then over the rolling hills of Northumberland, County Durham and Cumbria.
Old High Shield is situated half way along Hadrian's Wall, lying just half a mile south of its highest point where the Wall crosses the Pennines close to Rapishaw Gap. It is at this point that the wall follows the natural line of the Whin Sill, a dramatic escarpment of ancient igneous rock.
The surrounding countryside is breathtaking and many of the Wall's favourite views are to be found in this area. Old High Shield is situated a few hundred yards south of the B6318 (known locally as the Military Road) and is 5 miles from the market town of Haltwhistle, 25 miles east of Carlisle and 31 miles west of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is possible on a clear day to see Solway Firth from High Shield Crags on Hadrian's Wall where the Whin Sill drops steeply to Cragg Lough.
From Old High Shield you can walk north and south along a prehistoric route where depending on the time of year, day and light you might be able to make out Bronze Age hut circles and settlements. This path takes you to Hadrian's Wall to the north, or Vindolanda and the South Tyne at Bardon Mill to the south.
Getting to Old High Shield is easy by both public and private transport.
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