Shaftoe Crags
Crag, Rock And Cairn Bolam Northumberland

Shaftoe Crags

Crag, Rock And Cairn In Bolam, Northumberland

Stunning crags and landscape with standing stones and a Devil's Punchbowl.

I don't know what it is about crags that make me want to run around like I am 12 years old again. Maybe it's the fresh air or the open spaces, but I think it's mainly to do with seeing so much beautiful scenery that you can't help but take tonnes of photos.

So strap in, this one is picture heavy!

Standing atop the crags there are sweeping panoramic views in all directions with views of the Simonside Hills and also the coast in the distance. From here, this is probably the Northumberland landscape at its best.

Bleak, Barren, Beautiful.

There is plenty to see as you explore including the Jubilee Stone and The Poind and His Man standing stones. We didn't get a close up of the latter as it was lambing season and the fields were full of sheep, so didn't want to disturb them. There are also a couple of other stones towards Middleton, but those are on the list for the next visit.

Further along the track there is a gap in the sandstone called Salter's Nick, once used by smugglers taking salt to Scotland or smugglers bringing whiskey to England. The cuts made by wagons are still visible. (See below).

Take a small excursion in to the fields on top of Salter's Nick to find the Jubilee Stone marking the Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Finding this stone was what set off this whole Fabulous North business in the first place.

View the Jubilee Stone in more detail on it's own fabulous page.

There are so many wonderful crags to see in every direction that I took way too many photographs.

Heading around the corner is the Devil's Punchbowl which is a basin cut into the rock. Rumour has is that William Blackett, of the nearby Wallington Hall, had a punchbowl filled to the top with wine at his wedding feast.

You can find the Devil's Punchbowl using these what3words - ///parkland.joins.sober.

The punchbowl is located on this rock pictured below, so keep an eye out for it.

Enjoy your wander around Shaftoe Crags and keep scrolling for more photos.

Yep, even more photos!

Still with us? Only a few more pictures.

And finally if you want a little guided tour around the crags have a look at Tammy Tour Guide as she explores the crags and provides lots of lovely information. (And more photos!)

Just as we about to sign off, our Fabulous North friend Phil Page sent us even more photos from when he visited at sunset. Just to give you a different persepctive.

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How To Find Shaftoe Crags

Where Is Shaftoe Crags?

Show Place On Google Maps

Lat / Long

55.128679, -1.920937

What three words

tactical.tadpoles.peanut

Where To Park For Shaftoe Crags?

Show Parking On Google Maps

Lat / Long

55.135821, 55.135821

What three words

keys.napped.annual

There is parking at Bolam Lake if you fancy a walk around there too, otherwise follow signs for Shaftoe Crags which is NW of Bolam Lake. Follow the road NW from Bolam Lake for less than 1km then look for a fingerpost sign on the left side. Head up the road and then you will come to a parking area in a field just through a gate.

Contributed by Simon Hawkins

Thanks for checking out this place on the Fabulous North! I do enjoy a wander out in to the countryside trying to find hidden gems that not many people know about. You can't beat a rogue pele tower up a remote hill, a mysterious stone circle or a stunning waterfall secluded in a forest.

More Places from Simon
Simon Hawkins

More Places In Bolam

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The trig point sitting on top of Shaftoe Crags (213m).

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Find Walks To Shaftoe Crags

Find which walks will visit Shaftoe Crags and plan your next adventure.

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This zig-zag walk takes you from Blast Beach at Noses Point Seaham to Easington Pit Cage, then back over Beacon Hill and through Hawthorn Dene. It goes down and up beaches, a viaduct, and a trig point.

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Circular route starting from Allensford Park, walking along the River Derwent and through The Heaps Country Park, before heading through Balehill Wood.

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A hike from Ingram Valley up to Cunyan Crags and then round the back of Hedgehope Hill to the Langleeford crags, before scaling the hill and then on to the Great Standrop.

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A short circular walk around Wallington Hall and the gardens.

Walltown Quarry To Thirlwall Castle
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A picturesque circular route from Walltown Quarry Country Park, through stunning countryside to Thirlwall Castle and back.

Auchope Cairn And Cheviot Summit From Mounthooly
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Durham Riverside
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A short wander around the spectacular Shaftoe Crags finding a Jubilee Stone, a standing stone and bagging a trig point.

Meggie's Burn And Blyth Coast
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A wander to Meggie's Burn in Blyth and then back along the coast and via the promenade.

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Cullercoats To North Shields
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Beadnell Bay To Low Newton
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Old Durham and 6 Bridges
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Fairly easy loop around Buttermere lake with stunning scenery all around the route.

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18km (11 miles) Ingram Valley Northumberland

A wander up to the Great Standrop on Hedgehope Hill via Cunyan Crags and the smaller crags on Dunmoor Hill with a return visit to Linhope Spout.

Marsden Quarry Nature Reserve and Cleadon Hills
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A 10km wander up Tosson Hill to bag the trig point.

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A 30km walk to bag some trig points and chunky hills including Bloodybush Edge, Cushat Law, Hogdon Law and Weather Cairn.

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A circular walk starting at Wooler common taking you around Humbleton Hill and across to Yeavering Bell.

Whittle Dene Reservoir Circular
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Simonside and Fontburn Reservoir
Simonside and Fontburn Reservoir
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A 15km hike around the Simonside area visiting Fontburn Reservoir.

Alnwick Riverside And Railways
Alnwick Riverside And Railways
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Hawthorn Woods, Meadow, and Dene
Hawthorn Woods, Meadow, and Dene
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Delightful woods, meadows and coastal surprises with mini challenges. Situated near Seaham, County Durham.

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Shill Moor And Little Dod
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A wander up to Little Dod then up to the Shill Moor trig point before returning via the valley floor.

Hepburn Moor And Ros Castle
Hepburn Moor And Ros Castle
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A meander from Ros Castle down the west side of Hepburn Moor finding cairns, hillforts, pill boxes, crags and the Blawearie.

Warkworth To Alnmouth
Warkworth To Alnmouth
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A wander from Warkworth to Alnmouth up the coastal path and then a return via the beach visiting St Cuthbert's Cross and Mortuary Chapel on Church Hill.

Seaton Sluice And Holywell Dene
Seaton Sluice And Holywell Dene
9km (6 miles) Seaton Valley Northumberland

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Newburn To Wylam
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A walk along the River Tyne from Newburn to Wylam and then back on the other side.

Berwick Law
Berwick Law
1km (1 mile) East Lothian Borders

A short walk up to the top of Berwick Law in East Lothian.

Bewick Moor, Cateran Hole, Ros Castle And Blawearie
Bewick Moor, Cateran Hole, Ros Castle And Blawearie
20km (12 miles) Chillingham Northumberland

Starting from Eglingham, this route takes your over Bewick Moor to Cateran Hole, a trip up Ros Castle before a visit to the Hepburn Bastle. Then we're back on the moor to the Blawearie Shepherds Hut and some cairns.

Wannie Line
Wannie Line
12km (8 miles) Morpeth Northumberland

A wander on the route of the former Wansbeck or "Wannie Line" railway line that ran from Morpeth to Reedsmouth and Rothbury.

Clennell Street And Shillhope Law
Clennell Street And Shillhope Law
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Heading up Clennel Street taking in Shillhope Law and bagging a trig point.

Windy Gyle
Windy Gyle
19km (12 miles) The Cheviots Northumberland

A loop taking in Windy Gyle, the border ridge and Murder Cleugh.

Dunmoor Hill And Cunyan Crags
Dunmoor Hill And Cunyan Crags
19km (12 miles) The Cheviots Northumberland

A lovely jaunt up Cunyan Crags then onto Dunmoor Hill in Ingram Valley including Reaveley Hill, a stone circle, Long Crag and Cat Crag.

Helvellyn Via Striding Edge
Helvellyn Via Striding Edge
16km (10 miles) Glenridding Cumbria

An autumnal ascent up Helvellyn via the precarious Striding Edge with Trekking Tom Experiences also taking in Red Tarn, Snake Path, Catstye Cam, Swirral Edge and Birkhouse Moor.

Cheviot and Hedgehope Hill
Cheviot and Hedgehope Hill
23km (14 miles) The Cheviots Northumberland

A wander in the Cheviots bagging seven hills over 500m including Cheviot Summit and Hedgehope Hill, Broadhope Hill, Preston Hill, Scald Hill, Cairn Hill and Comb Fell.

Upper Rothbury And Cartington Hill
Upper Rothbury And Cartington Hill
21km (13 miles) Rothbury Northumberland

A wander up on the crags above Rothbury, finding the Rothbury trenches then a trip up Cartington Hill and towards Cartington Castle.

Hen Hole And Cheviot Summit
Hen Hole And Cheviot Summit
23km (14 miles) The Cheviots Northumberland

An amazing walk sweeping around the back of The Cheviot before ascending up the spectacular Hen Hole and then back down via Scald Hill. Also traversing Cairn Hill, The Cheviot Summit and a visit to Auchope Cairn.

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Shaftoe Crags was listed in Crag, Rock And Cairn // Northumberland // Bolam