← Back✦ Historic site

Prehistoric cairnfield and unenclosed settlement, Romano-British village and field system and medieval field system on north east slopes of Brands Hill

30 ha

📷 Geoff Holland · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

WildlifeBirdsInsects

Free entryDogs welcome30 ha

Getting here

55.51530, -2.03188

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Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

🌤️ Visiting this summer

🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
🌿Foraging is at its best in summer here
🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days

Good to know

£Free to visit — no entry charge
🐕Dogs welcome

Parking

Best for

6 activities

Wildlife

Very strong match

Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles; Multi-group wildlife — Birds, Mammals, Reptiles

Free

Bird watching

Very strong match

Birds — Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Robin +78 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Robin +78 more · last seen 2025

Free

Insect spotting

Strong match

Lowland heathland — silver-studded blue and heath fritillary butterflies; Insects — Pine Ladybird, 7-spot Ladybird, Mesembrina meridiana +33 more · last seen 2025

Free

Seasonal nature

Strong match

Plants — Sand Spurrey, Harebell, Climbing Corydalis +85 more · last seen 2025; Plants — Sand Spurrey, Harebell, Climbing Corydalis +85 more · last seen 2025

Free

Foraging

Strong match

Plants — Sheep's Sorrel, Autumn Hawkbit, Wild Thyme +11 more foraging species

Varies

Heritage

Strong match

Historic site

Free

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km

🚶

Walking

1 signed route nearby · 2 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths

Saint Cuthbert's Way (Kirk Yetholm to Lindisfarne)Walking route

Named routeRegional walking route

🚴

Cycling

11 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby

Pennine CyclewayCycling route

Named routeRef 68National Cycle Network

Main RouteCycling route8 m

Named routeRef 68Length 8 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route2.3 km

Named routeRef 68Length 2.3 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm

Main RouteCycling route1.1 km

Named routeRef 68Length 1.1 kmNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route8 m

Named routeRef 68Length 8 mNational Cycle NetworkOn-roadSurface asphalt

Main RouteCycling route91 m

Named routeRef 68Length 91 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface bareearth

Wildlife to spot

4,728 records · National Biodiversity Network

Wildlife to spot

4,728 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds51 species

summer

2025

Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Robin · Song Thrush · Wren +46

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
RobinErithacus rubecula
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
SwallowHirundo rustica
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
DipperCinclus cinclus
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
House MartinDelichon urbicum
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
DunnockPrunella modularis
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
RavenCorvus corax
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
CurlewNumenius arquata
LinnetLinaria cannabina
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
SiskinSpinus spinus
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Great TitParus major
GreenfinchChloris chloris
SwiftApus apus
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Herring GullLarus argentatus
LapwingVanellus vanellus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Muscovy DuckCairina moschata
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
JackdawColoeus monedula
SkylarkAlauda arvensis

🌿

Plants83 species

summer

2025

Sheep's Sorrel · Autumn Hawkbit · Climbing Corydalis · Harebell · Tufted Hair-grass +78

Sheep's SorrelRumex acetosella
Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis
Climbing CorydalisCeratocapnos claviculata
HarebellCampanula rotundifolia
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Greater Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus pedunculatus
Hard RushJuncus inflexus
ColtsfootTussilago farfara
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus
PolypodyPolypodium vulgare
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra
ElderSambucus nigra
Wild ThymeThymus drucei
Lemon-scented FernOreopteris limbosperma
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
Silver BirchBetula pendula
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
GorseUlex europaeus
BroomCytisus scoparius
BrackenPteridium aquilinum
Red CampionSilene dioica
Dryopteris cambrensisDryopteris cambrensis
PignutConopodium majus
TormentilPotentilla erecta
BlinksMontia fontana
SneezewortAchillea ptarmica
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifolium
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Barren StrawberryPotentilla sterilis
YarrowAchillea millefolium
AlderAlnus glutinosa
Water MintMentha aquatica
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
HeatherCalluna vulgaris
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Great Wood-rushLuzula sylvatica
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula
Lady-fernAthyrium filix-femina
Quaking-grassBriza media
Goat WillowSalix caprea
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum
Starry SaxifrageMicranthes stellaris
Dryopteris borreriDryopteris borreri
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Crested Dog's-tailCynosurus cristatus
Greater StitchwortStellaria holostea
Heath GroundselSenecio sylvaticus
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata
Wood SageTeucrium scorodonia
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustre
Heath BedstrawGalium saxatile
Devil's-bit ScabiousSuccisa pratensis
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Wood Crane's-billGeranium sylvaticum
Parsley FernCryptogramma crispa
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
DaisyBellis perennis
Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris
Mouse-ear-hawkweedPilosella officinarum
New Zealand WillowherbEpilobium brunnescens
BilberryVaccinium myrtillus
Hoary WillowherbEpilobium parviflorum
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas
Bog AsphodelNarthecium ossifragum
Hard-fernBlechnum spicant
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Squirreltail FescueVulpia bromoides
Narrow Buckler-fernDryopteris carthusiana
RowanSorbus aucuparia
CrosswortCruciata laevipes
Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalensAsplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens
Purple WillowSalix purpurea
Bell HeatherErica cinerea
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Glaucous SedgeCarex flacca
GoldenrodSolidago virgaurea
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens
IvyHedera helix
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

4,728 records · National Biodiversity Network

🐦

Birds51 species

summer

2025

Woodpigeon · Blackbird · Robin · Song Thrush · Wren +46

WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
BlackbirdTurdus merula
RobinErithacus rubecula
Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
SwallowHirundo rustica
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilus
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
Carrion CrowCorvus corone
DipperCinclus cinclus
ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
Sand MartinRiparia riparia
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
Pied WagtailMotacilla alba yarrellii
PheasantPhasianus colchicus
WhinchatSaxicola rubetra
House MartinDelichon urbicum
OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegus
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
KestrelFalco tinnunculus
BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
DunnockPrunella modularis
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
RavenCorvus corax
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
CurlewNumenius arquata
LinnetLinaria cannabina
Grey HeronArdea cinerea
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucos
Red Grouse (scotica)Lagopus scotica
FieldfareTurdus pilaris
SiskinSpinus spinus
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhula
Coal TitPeriparus ater
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striata
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclus
StonechatSaxicola rubicola
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
Great TitParus major
GreenfinchChloris chloris
SwiftApus apus
WhitethroatCurruca communis
Herring GullLarus argentatus
LapwingVanellus vanellus
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
House SparrowPasser domesticus
Muscovy DuckCairina moschata
StarlingSturnus vulgaris
JackdawColoeus monedula
SkylarkAlauda arvensis

🌿

Plants83 species

summer

2025

Sheep's Sorrel · Autumn Hawkbit · Climbing Corydalis · Harebell · Tufted Hair-grass +78

Sheep's SorrelRumex acetosella
Autumn HawkbitScorzoneroides autumnalis
Climbing CorydalisCeratocapnos claviculata
HarebellCampanula rotundifolia
Tufted Hair-grassDeschampsia cespitosa
Greater Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus pedunculatus
Hard RushJuncus inflexus
ColtsfootTussilago farfara
Common Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatus
PolypodyPolypodium vulgare
Cat's-earHypochaeris radicata
Hemlock Water-dropwortOenanthe crocata
Centaurea nigraCentaurea nigra
ElderSambucus nigra
Wild ThymeThymus drucei
Lemon-scented FernOreopteris limbosperma
Common Dog-violetViola riviniana
Silver BirchBetula pendula
Wavy Bitter-cressCardamine flexuosa
GorseUlex europaeus
BroomCytisus scoparius
BrackenPteridium aquilinum
Red CampionSilene dioica
Dryopteris cambrensisDryopteris cambrensis
PignutConopodium majus
TormentilPotentilla erecta
BlinksMontia fontana
SneezewortAchillea ptarmica
Opposite-leaved Golden-saxifrageChrysosplenium oppositifolium
Common NettleUrtica dioica
Perennial Rye-grassLolium perenne
Barren StrawberryPotentilla sterilis
YarrowAchillea millefolium
AlderAlnus glutinosa
Water MintMentha aquatica
HogweedHeracleum sphondylium
HeatherCalluna vulgaris
Creeping ThistleCirsium arvense
Great Wood-rushLuzula sylvatica
Lesser SpearwortRanunculus flammula
Lady-fernAthyrium filix-femina
Quaking-grassBriza media
Goat WillowSalix caprea
Lesser StitchwortStellaria graminea
Sweet Vernal-grassAnthoxanthum odoratum
Starry SaxifrageMicranthes stellaris
Dryopteris borreriDryopteris borreri
Common BentAgrostis capillaris
Crested Dog's-tailCynosurus cristatus
Greater StitchwortStellaria holostea
Heath GroundselSenecio sylvaticus
Broad Buckler-fernDryopteris dilatata
Wood SageTeucrium scorodonia
Marsh ThistleCirsium palustre
Heath BedstrawGalium saxatile
Devil's-bit ScabiousSuccisa pratensis
Broad-leaved DockRumex obtusifolius
Wood Crane's-billGeranium sylvaticum
Parsley FernCryptogramma crispa
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
DaisyBellis perennis
Wild AngelicaAngelica sylvestris
Mouse-ear-hawkweedPilosella officinarum
New Zealand WillowherbEpilobium brunnescens
BilberryVaccinium myrtillus
Hoary WillowherbEpilobium parviflorum
Male-fernDryopteris filix-mas
Bog AsphodelNarthecium ossifragum
Hard-fernBlechnum spicant
HawthornCrataegus monogyna
Squirreltail FescueVulpia bromoides
Narrow Buckler-fernDryopteris carthusiana
RowanSorbus aucuparia
CrosswortCruciata laevipes
Asplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalensAsplenium trichomanes subsp. quadrivalens
Purple WillowSalix purpurea
Bell HeatherErica cinerea
Soft-rushJuncus effusus
Glaucous SedgeCarex flacca
GoldenrodSolidago virgaurea
Procumbent PearlwortSagina procumbens
IvyHedera helix
Wood-sorrelOxalis acetosella

Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas

Wildlife to spot

Photos

📷 Geoff Holland · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Public Footpath, Brands Hill

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Scott ParkUrban park3.7 km→🌱Tower HillUrban park3.7 km→⛪St Mary's ChurchReligious grounds3.6 km→⛪St Ninian's Roman Catholic ChurchReligious grounds3.7 km→🌱Middleton Hall Picnic SiteUrban park1.7 km→✦Prehistoric field system and cairnfield east of Watch Hill, 520m NNE of footbridge over Carey BurnHistoric site2.5 km→

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Nearby reservoirs

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Wooler Common W

2.8 km→

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