‘Lazy’ Dog Owners Hide Poo Bags in Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall, constructed by 15,000 soldiers over six years, stands as a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Britain’s most iconic Roman landmarks. Yet, despite its historical significance, some visitors are using its ancient crevices to conceal dog waste. At Steel Rigg, where the Wall rises sharply from the morning fog, Margaret Anderson, Northumberland National Park’s head ranger, observes the issue firsthand. Just a few meters from a sign urging responsible disposal, she notes the presence of dog mess along the path.

Anderson is particularly dismayed by those who do collect the waste but merely tuck the bags into the Wall’s cracks. “It’s a real sense of frustration,” she says, reflecting on the structure’s popularity. “For someone to think it’s okay to wedge poo bags into a UNESCO site—it’s heartbreaking.” The Wall, stretching 73 miles through some of England’s most rugged landscapes, runs from Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria to Wallsend in North Tyneside. However, the central stretch lacks bins, not even in the Steel Rigg car park, the main entry point for visitors.

“Nobody likes picking up dog mess, but as a dog owner, it’s just what you do,” says Taylor Hughes from Wrexham, dismissing the practice as “just lazy.”

“There’s no reason why people can’t put it into a bag and take it home with them,” adds Kate Harrison from Durham, who walks her dachshund Bobbi. “I’ll be picking up after little Bobbi, promise,” she laughs, acknowledging the issue with a smile.

While dog waste is a major concern, the Wall also faces other challenges. Visitors often climb on it for selfies, carry children onto its surface, or picnic on its elevated sides. For Tony Gates, the outgoing CEO of the Northumberland National Park Authority, the issue of hidden poo bags is especially puzzling. “Would it look the same if every 50 meters there’s a poo bag sticking out of it?” he muses. “I don’t think so.”

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