Local pilot remembers Sycamore Gap tree

It’s been referred to as the most photographed spot in the whole of Northumberland National Park, but Sycamore Gap, a tree that has stood in a dramatic dip in Hadrian’s Wall for 300 years was felled recently in what the National Trust described as an “act of vandalism”

Local pilot Paul Kiddell, who enjoys documenting the beauty of Northumberland from the air, shared some photos with us of the famous ‘Sycamore Gap’ tree – an aerial landmark that featured often in his flights across the region in his Eurostar microlight.

Paul told FLYER, “It’s such a local icon, I heard someone suggest it’s the north-east’s equivalent of someone knocking down Nelson’s Column.”

The Sycamore Gap tree was as iconic as Nelson’s Column, according to local pilot Paul Kiddell

Even in winter, the Sycamore Gap tree clearly stood out

See Flying Adventures by Paul Kiddell:

Day Stripper Delights – Scottish air strips

A Winter’s Tale – flying in the coldest month

Northern Ireland: A favourite place to fly