Located along Hadrian’s Wall on the B6318 (known locally as the Military Road) at Bardon Mill is The Sill. A National Landscape Discovery Centre in Northumberland National Park. It is a visitor centre and new tourist attraction that opened in 2017 which aims to inspire people of all ages to explore the landscape, history, culture and heritage of Northumberland.
We took a trip there one recent Sunday for a free family day out in North East England.
We took a trip there one recent Sunday for a free family day out in North East England.
Family Day Out to The Sill in Northumberland National Park
There are so many fantastic places in the North East to enjoy a family day out, with many of them free. You can find lots of them in our handy A-Z guide of free family days out in the North East, and now we can add The Sill and Northumberland National Park to the list.
Northumberland National Park
Northumberland National Park Authority covers an area of more than 1,000 square kilometres between the Scottish border in the north to just south of Hadrian's Wall.
National Park status is the highest form of landscape protection in the UK. Of the 11 National Parks in England and Wales, Northumberland is the most remote and least populated of all England’s national parks, with a population of only around 2,000, and least visited of the National Parks as well as being home to England's cleanest rivers, clearest air, the darkest skies and The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre.
From prehistoric rock art and hill forts to the ruins of medieval castles and bastles, or fortified farmhouses and UNESCO World Heritage Site Hadrian’s Wall, the historic landscape of Northumberland National Park reflects its frontier past.
Hadrian’s Wall
The Sill is located close to Steel Rigg & Crag Lough - one of the best viewpoints of the iconic Hadrian's Wall, and one of the most photographed. We walked along this section with the boys a couple of years ago. It’s a beautiful walk with plenty of history and picturesque views – even for kids to enjoy.
The Sill - National Landscape Discovery Centre
The Sill features a landscape exhibition, modern learning and event spaces, a local food café, a world-class modern Youth Hostel, a rural business hub, and a shop specialising in local crafts and produce. It’s an iconic new building that harmoniously reflects the distinctiveness of the Northumbrian landscape in both its shape and the materials used in its construction, as it rises from the Northumberland landscape with little impact on the environment, perfectly mirroring its inspiration; the unique landscape of the Hadrian’s Wall corridor. It’s built on the site of a previous visitor centre and YHA hostel at Once Brewed and is named after the nearby internationally-renowned geological feature, the Great Whin Sill.
What is The Sill?
The UK’s National Landscape Discovery Centre at Once Brewed in the Northumberland National Park. It’s a world-class, state-of-the-art landscape discovery centre in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Where is The Sill?
The Sill is at Once Brewed, near Bardon Mill in Northumberland, North East England. It's less than one hour from Newcastle or Carlisle by car but also accessible by walking, cycling and Hadrian’s Wall public transport.
What will I find at The Sill?
At The Sill, there are permanent and temporary free exhibitions to enjoy. We got hands-on in the permanent exhibition – a free interactive exhibition all about the incredible landscape. It includes geological exhibits; interactive displays; artwork installations and audio-visual displays. The aim of the exhibition is to transform how people discover and explore the natural and cultural heritage of the landscape. Here you can discover poetry, stories, music and interactive games helping you find out more about the fascinating culture and heritage of the region. My youngest was quite happy climbing under the exhibits to listen to the audio.
You can also build your own landscape using the incredible Augmented Reality Sandbox – this was definitely their favourite part - and mine - lots of fun and we had to drag the boys away! If we all had one of these at home we'd all be a lot more relaxed.
There is also the Whin Sill Grassland Roof from where we enjoyed spectacular panoramic views over towards Hadrian’s Wall and the Northumberland countryside. The short walk up is peppered with local plants planted to replicate the unique natural grasslands of the surrounding area.
Built to mimic the shapes and geology of The Great Whin Sill, the grass roof is planted in a substrate inspired by the surrounding landscape. Whin makes thin, poor soil, so plants have to be able to cope with tough conditions this means that the area gives a home to a unique community of plants and our grass roof reflects this.
Its centrepiece is a beautiful Whin Sill grass roof, The Sill’s fully accessible living roof sweeps gently upwards, giving visitors a bird’s eye vantage point across one of the UK’s most magnificent landscapes and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall.
There is also a Cafe at the Sill offering panoramic views of Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site and the Tyne Valley and specialises in sourcing food from local farms and suppliers.
When is The Sill open?
It is open daily – except Christmas Day.
How much does it cost?
Admission is free but there are car parking charges with 177 spaces.1st 15 mins are free and up to 2 hours £2.00
Additional time £1.00 per hour thereafter up to a maximum of £5.00.
£10.00 overnight (Cars and Motorhomes may be parked and left overnight but camping and overnighting in motorhomes is not allowed)
You can also buy either a One Day Hadrian’s Wall Car Parking Pass (£10) an Annual Hadrian’s Wall Car Parking Pass (£40) from reception at The Sill.
This provides unlimited car parking in all of the Northumberland National Park car parks along Hadrian’s Wall including The Sill and Housesteads.
Have you been to The Sill yet?
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