Visiting

Visitor Information

Parking and Travel

Opening Times

Summer (1 April – 31 October)

Daily – 9.30am – 6.00pm

Winter (1 November – 31 March)

Daily – 10.00am – 4.00pm (except Christmas Day & Boxing Day)

Be sure to look out for our evening events programme.

Only assistance dogs are permitted into The Sill.

Dogs

We are often asked why dogs are not allowed on the Whin Grassland roof and within the National Landscape Discovery Centre.

Our Whin Grassland roof is the only one of its kind in the world and has never been tried before. We have worked closely with specialists and the academic community to find the best soil mix to support and to propagate this unique community of plants. This is an experiment and key to its success will be maintaining the delicate chemical balance of the soil.

One of the primary reasons why dogs are not allowed on the roof is the protection of this delicate ecosystem and chemistry. Although most dog owners are responsible and will take away dog waste both their solid waste and urine could be damaging to the grassland.

We also have to look after the health and safety of our staff and volunteers who will be working on our Whin Grassland.  We do welcome dogs in our other outdoor spaces and our welcome team make sure that there is always water available in our dog bowls at the main entrance and kiosk area.

We welcome assistance dogs in the National Landscape Discovery Centre however, we are not able to welcome other dogs there are several reasons for this. The discovery centre is home to learning rooms, a shop and exhibition spaces; there are lots of sounds, lights and smells in a confined area which may cause even the most well-behaved dogs to become excited.

We are also very lucky to have been loaned objects from museums and as part of our loan conditions dogs are not allowed in the exhibition spaces. We are also conscious that not all people like, or feel safe around dogs.

Car & Coach Parking

There are 177 car park spaces at The Sill. Charges apply to all vehicles.

Car Park charges for 2017 are:

First 15 Minutes – FREE, then £1 per hour (maximum of £5 ALL DAY)

There are 2 charging posts on site, for drivers of Electric Vehicles.

There are 7 dedicated spaces for Coaches and Motorhomes (car parking charges apply)

Blue Badge Holders

There are 5 dedicated car parking spaces for Blue Badge Holders close to the entrance of the Sill, with level surface access to the main reception doors.

Further Parking

Additional car parking spaces are available at Steel Rigg Car Park (NE47 7AN) on Hadrian’s Wall, a 15-minute walk from The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre.

Getting Here

By Road:

If you are travelling from the WEST along the A69 (from M6/Carlisle), follow the brown & white tourism signs to “Hadrian’s Wall”. As you near the junction, near Greenhead, turn left off the A69 and follow the signs to “The Sill”.

If you are travelling from the EAST along the A69 (from A1/ Newcastle), follow the brown & white tourism signs to “Hadrian’s Wall”.  As you’re near the Stagshaw roundabout (Nr Corbridge), turn left off the A69 and follow the signs to “The Sill”.

The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre is located at NE47 7AN

By Bus:

Between Easter and End of September, the Hadrian’s Wall Bus service (AD122)  runs an hourly service between Hexham and Haltwhistle, visiting all the main Roman sites and the Sill. The bus stop at the Sill is located right outside the main entrance. The operator of the service is GoNorthEast. Visit: www.gonortheast.co.uk/ad122

Concessionary bus pass holders travel free on all journeys after 9.30am on weekdays and all day at weekends or Bank Holidays (holders of Northumberland Concessionary Bus Passes may board after 9 am on weekdays).

Child tickets are available for all Under 16’s. Student tickets are available on production of a valid NUS or International Student ID card. Family tickets are available for up to 2 adults & 3 children travelling together & must include at least 1 adult & 1 child.

Please note that Go North East Buzzfare tickets are only valid for travel on the AD122 between Hexham and Chollerford. North East & North West Explorer tickets are not valid on the AD122.

By Bike:

The Sill is accessible from the Hadrian’s Cycleway (NCN72). There are 3  bike stands in front of the building and 6 lockable bike storage units available to hire for bikes and bags on site.

What's on offer?

Find out more about The Sill

Exhibitions at the Sill

A permanent free-to-enter landscape exhibition with interactive exhibits for kids of all ages! helping you discover our natural and cultural heritage.

The Stell is a temporary exhibition space, with the first exhibition focussing on the design and build of the Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre.

YHA at the Sill

This 86 bed youth hostel has all the facilities you’d expect from YHA (England & Wales) including a self-catering kitchen, classroom for group and school residential use, and relaxing social areas. Our 26 bedrooms are split evenly across two floors and consist of either two or four beds. Eighteen of the rooms are en-suite and two are fully DDA en-suite compliant. All bedrooms have free Wi-Fi and Salto key card access, making this a really secure place to stay.

Room Sizes:

8 x 2 bed en-suite
2 x 3 bed en-suite with double bed
8 x 4 bed
8 x 4 bed en-suite

Booking:

To make a booking enquiry, simply follow this link.

Cafe at the Sill

The Cafe at the Sill is an 86-seat cafe offering panoramic views of Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site and the Tyne valley, and specialises in sourcing food from local farms and suppliers.

Learning & Events at the Sill

There are two learning rooms that will be used by educational groups and will host public events and workshops throughout the year.

Whin Sill Grassland Roof

The Whin Sill grassland roof is unique and fully accessible to all, allowing  wheelchair users and those with buggies, to reach a viewing platform with panoramic views in all directions. It is the only one of its kind in the world and will be used by students to learn more about carbon capture, geology and ecology.

Shop at the Sill

The Shop at the Sill: a showcase of local talent, creativity and enterprise, where you can find that special gift that reflects the quality of your visit to Northumberland.

Changing Places Toilets

All our toilets are fully accessible, including one fitted out to Changing Places standards, allowing private and fully equipped changing facilities for users and their carers.

The Hive at the Sill

The Hive is a new enterprise hub housing new and emerging rural businesses, which will soon buzz with activity.