Housesteads Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall
Hexham, Northumberland
The most complete Roman fort in Britain, with high moorland and the Hadrian's Wall path at the gate for your dog. A stiff climb from the car park.
Housesteads is the most complete Roman fort in Britain and the setting sells it. The fort sits on the Whin Sill, the volcanic ridge Hadrian's Wall climbs and follows, with the Wall running away east and west along the crags. You can read the whole plan out of the ground: barracks, the commanding officer's house, the hospital, and the best preserved Roman latrines in the country.
As you work through the fort platform and the exhibition, which covers how soldiers and their families actually lived on the empire's northern edge, your dog takes in big open moorland grass with far horizons, peat and bracken and sheep in the air, and curlew overhead. The Wall path from the gate towards Steel Rigg and Sycamore Gap is one of the best walks in England if you want to make a day of it.
Dogs are welcome on the fort on a short lead, and there are sheep on all the surrounding land, so that is not a rule to bend. Two things to plan for: it is a stiff uphill walk from the car park, and the car park is run by Northumberland National Park at £5 for up to three hours. National Trust members get in free as well.
At a Glance
- Dog Access
- On-lead in the grounds
- Dogs are welcome on the fort, on a short lead. Assistance dogs welcome.
- Site Type
- Roman Site
- Entry
- £11.90 adult
- £5.95 child · £29.75 family
- Members
- Free for English Heritage members
- Facilities
- Café / restaurant, Museum, Parking, Picnic seating, Shop, Toilets, Wheelchair access
- Telephone
- 01434 344363
- Parking
- Housesteads Roman Fort car park is run by Northumberland National Park. Parking costs £5 for up to 3 hours, then an additional £2 per additional hour, up to a maximum of £10 for the whole day. Pay on exit or within 48 hours online at www.parkwithease.co.uk . Accessible parking is in the main car park, with limited spaces at the museum by the fort. For more information, please visit the Northumberland National Park website .
English Heritage Membership
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Planning Your Visit
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday
- 10:00 - 17:00
- Thursday
- 10:00 - 17:00
- Friday
- 10:00 - 17:00
- Saturday
- 10:00 - 17:00
- Sunday
- 10:00 - 17:00
Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Housesteads Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome at Housesteads Roman Fort. They're allowed on the fort itself, though they must be kept on a short lead throughout — there are sheep on all the surrounding land, so this is a firm rule rather than a guideline. It's a brilliant destination for dogs who enjoy wide open moorland with big skies and plenty of interesting smells.
Are dogs allowed at Housesteads Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall year round?
The listing doesn't specify any seasonal restrictions on dogs at Housesteads, so they appear to be welcome throughout the year. That said, it's always worth checking with the National Trust before you visit, particularly during lambing season when lead rules on surrounding land can be especially important.
What should I know before visiting Housesteads Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall with my dog?
The two big things to plan for are the walk up and the lead rule. It's a stiff uphill climb from the car park to the fort, so be prepared for that with dogs of any age or fitness level. Once you're up there, short leads are required throughout — sheep graze the surrounding moorland — but the reward is one of the great Roman sites in Britain plus direct access to the Hadrian's Wall path towards Steel Rigg and Sycamore Gap if you want to extend the day.
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