Sycamore Gap Tree Memorial
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Sycamore Gap Tree Memorial

The famous dip in Hadrian's Wall where a much-loved sycamore once stood - still a beautiful, moving spot to visit, with new growth from the stump offering real hope.

Address:

Northumberland National Park, Once Brewed, Hexham, NE47 7AW

Hours:

Always open

Map

About

Sycamore Gap is the dramatic dip in Hadrian's Wall where a lone sycamore stood for well over a century. It was one of the most photographed trees in the country — it even featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves — until it was illegally felled overnight on 28 September 2023. Two men were later jailed for cutting it down.

The good news is that the tree hasn't gone. In September 2026 the National Trust shared new images showing a thick ring of shoots, now two to three feet tall, growing from the stump. Saplings grown from its seeds and cuttings have also been planted in communities and national parks across the UK, so the tree now lives on in dozens of places.

Good to know

The gap is on the Hadrian's Wall Path, reached on foot along the Wall from the car parks near Once Brewed. The walk is short but undulating, with some steep sections along the Wall. The National Trust asks visitors to keep back from the stump and not touch the new growth — the recovery depends on the ground around the roots being left alone.

A Little Note From Heather & Sand

We haven't quite made it here ourselves yet, but it's on our list!

We're working our way around Northumberland, personally visiting and reviewing as many of the places featured in our Listed section as we can. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it.

In the meantime, we do our homework. Before adding somewhere to Heather & Sand, we research it, look at what other visitors have to say and check that it has a good reputation. If the feedback isn't encouraging, it generally doesn't make our list.

Of course, a little online research is no substitute for muddy boots, a decent coffee and seeing somewhere for ourselves. So until we've visited, we'll leave the personal review to one side.

A little about us...

Heather & Sand is our little corner of Northumberland — a collection of places, stories, walks and discoveries from a county we love.

Through our Journal, Guide and Listed pages, we hope to help you discover somewhere new, revisit an old favourite or simply enjoy a little Northumberland from wherever you happen to be.

Tom, Lucy & the Heather & Sand crew.

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