Wolf Rock

There's a weathered stone marker on the moorland above Hexham that tells a story nobody quite agrees on anymore. Wolf Rock sits out on the Northumberland hills, a place where the landscape feels properly wild and the history gets a bit fuzzy. Local legend has it that the last wolf in England was killed here, though historians tend to roll their eyes at that one. Either way, it's a decent excuse for a moorland walk if you're camping at Kielder.

The rock itself is unremarkable until you know what you're looking for. Once you spot it, you've got a moment to stand there and think about what actually happened on this hillside centuries ago, whether that's a wolf hunt or something else entirely. It's the kind of place that rewards a bit of imagination.

Walkers and history types will get more from this than anyone else. Don't come expecting dramatic views or signposted trails - you need to know roughly where you're going. The nearby Kielder Campsite, Kielder Waterside and Lodges, and Landal Kielder Waterside are all within five miles, making this a reasonable afternoon detour if you're based at one of those. Allow an hour or so to find it and have a think. It's free, obviously, and the moorland walk there and back is actually the best bit. Go on a clear day when you can see for miles. Rain and mist turn it into a bit of a slog with nothing to show for it.