Great Wanney Crag

If you're from the north east region, you would surely have heard an older relative saying "We're in the wilds of Wanney!" referring to being in the middle of nowhere. And this beautifully remote area, where the Great Wanney Crag, sits is where the name originates.

You can also see Sweethope Loughs in the background. (The big lake thing.)

There are actually two crags up here, the Great Wanney Crag and the Little Wanney Crag. The Northumberland Crag Naming Committee really worked wonders with those. It's a good job I'm not on the committee, otherwise I would have gone a bit more abstract and voted to name them Keith and Barry.

Now you might be wondering where the name Wanney comes from and it's because the River Wansbeck originates from up here before trickling off through Morpeth and then out at Ashington.

The Great Wanney Crag is a prominent outcrop of the Whin Sill which is dolerite outcrop that stretching across northern England and passes under places such as Bamburgh Castle, the Ratcheugh Observatory and Hadrian's Wall. The dolerite rock at the Great Wanney Crag is known for its durability, making it a favored site for climbing. If you zoom in you can just make out some climbers at the bottom preparing for their ascent.

The area surrounding the Great Wanney Crag is part of the moorland habitat typical of the Northumberland National Park. The flora includes heather, bilberry, and various grass species which are well adapted to the acidic soil you find here. The crag and its environs (new word for me!) support a variety of wildlife, including birds of prey as kestrels and buzzards. The rocky crevices provide nesting sites for these birds, while the moorland is home to grouse and other ground-nesting birds.

There are also some fab boulders to look out for too.

If you fancy heading to the top of the Great Wanney Crag, then don't worry, you don't need to climb up. Just head to the left and as the crags descends towards the ground there is a clear path up to the top through the heather.

There are a number of ways of getting to the Great Wanney Crag. We parked in Fourlaws and followed the gravel track all the way, but there is a quicker route by parking on the side of the road between Kirkwhelpington and Ridsdale at the east entrance to the Fourlaws forest. Then just follow the track all the way to the crag.

Follow the route above or open on OS Maps. Just under 1.5km to get there.

For more fabulous information about the Wilds Of Wanney and its origin, read the Great Wanney Crag and the area in our In The Wilds Of Wanney blog post.