Sandstone Way monolith

Standing about 8 metres high on the Sandstone Way near Hexham, this monolith is a proper curiosity. It's a worked stone column that rises from the moorland like something between a folly and a marker, and it commands attention precisely because you're not quite sure what it is or why it's there.

The walk to it is the real draw. You're traversing proper Northumberland moorland - heather, big skies, the sort of terrain that makes you feel like you've actually gone somewhere. The monolith itself is modest in scale but oddly striking once you reach it, and it works as a decent turnaround point or waymark if you're doing a longer section of the Sandstone Way footpath.

Walkers will get the most from this one. It's not a destination that'll keep young kids entertained for hours, but it makes a solid focal point for a moorland ramble, especially if you're already in the area. The real appeal is the landscape around it rather than the monument itself. On a clear day you'll have views across the Tyne Valley that are worth the trek.

If you're based at Springhouse Boutique Holiday Park or East Farm Glamping - both less than 6 miles away - you could easily incorporate this into a morning walk. It sits well with a broader exploration of the Sandstone Way. Go early if possible to avoid the worst of any weather, and check the forecast beforehand - exposure on these moors isn't something to ignore.