Sycamore Gap in Northumberland National Park is our Object of the Week

TODAY’S object could just be the North East’s most famous tree, in one of the region’s most photographed beauty spots.

The tree stands in a dramatic dip near Hadrian’s Wall – known as Sycamore Gap – in the Northumberland National Park.

It’s also popularly known as the Robin Hood Tree, ever since it featured in scene from the a 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

The sycamore tree, reckoned to be hundreds of years old, sits between the Roman Milecastle 39 on Hadrian’s Wall and Crag Lough, an inland lake.

It’s the picturesque setting which makes tree so attractive for photographers, nestling as it does within an outcrop of the Whin Sill.

Sycamore Gap is looked after by both Northumberland National Park and the National Trust, which points to research carried out over the years suggesting there would have been more trees within the gap.

Reasons for having them removed could include game shooting, landscape views, or to provide a clearer vista to see anyone approaching.

The name Sycamore Gap appears to date back to a previous National Trust employee called Lawrence Hewer.

An ordinance survey team were making a visit to review the maps, but the spot had no name and when they asked a National Trust representative what to call it, Hewer quickly replied “Sycamore Gap”.

Sycamore Gap near Milecastle 39, between Steel Rigg and Housesteads, on Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland National Park

In more recent years, the tree has become a film and TV star. In Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, it features in a scene where Robin – played by Kevin Costner – and Aveem (Morgan Freeman) walk along the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall.

It’s also appeared on Top of the Pops, among many other music shows, as it features in the music video for the Bryan Adams’ hit (Everything I Do) I Do It for You – part of the film’s soundtrack

Other TV appearances include crime drama Vera and the documentary series More Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green.

Both the tree and gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh narrowly escaped death in 2003 when a helicopter filming for a show crashed near Hadrian’s Wall, just 30 metres from Sycamore Gap.

Perhaps the sycamore’s greatest accolade came in 2016 when it beat around 200 other entries to be named England’s Tree of the Year, winning a £1,000 prize. It came fifth in the European Tree of the Year awards in 2017.

l The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre (www.thesill.org.uk/) is an ideal spot to park up and grab a coffee/bite to eat, wander around the shop and its exhibitions, and then head to Sycamore Gap. There’s also a walk from Steel Rigg, but especially for families The Sill is a great start/end point with toilet facilities.

The Sill visitors centre in Northumberland National Park

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