What the crags section demands

Footwear: waterproof, broken-in, with real ankle support

The crags section is a steep up-and-down switchback — short, sharp climbs and descents over dolerite rock and stiles, repeated dozens of times over a single day. Wet dolerite gets slick, and the underlying ground either side of the trail is often boggy even in a dry summer. Worn-in waterproof boots, not trail runners and not brand-new boots, are the standard recommendation — this is the wrong trail to break in new footwear on.

Waterproofs, even in a "dry" week

Northumberland's exposed uplands, and Windshields Crags in particular at 345 m with no tree cover, catch weather that the forecast for Newcastle or Carlisle 20 miles away won't show. A proper waterproof jacket and trousers, not just a showerproof layer, cover you for the crags stretch specifically, whatever the forecast says for the valley towns either side.

Layers for wind, not just cold

Wind chill on the exposed ridge sections is the more common discomfort than raw cold, even in summer. A windproof outer layer over a breathable mid-layer handles this better than one thick jumper.

A real paper map or downloaded offline map

The trail is well waymarked with the National Trail's acorn symbol, but the central crags section has patchy mobile signal in the dips between ridges. Carrying the relevant Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet, or a downloaded offline digital map, is standard advice for this specific stretch rather than the whole route.

Trekking poles, if your knees notice descents

The repeated short, steep descents on the crags are harder on the knees than the mileage numbers suggest. Not essential, but worth packing if you'd normally use poles on any similarly undulating terrain.