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Northumberland-Walks.co.uk - photographic walks in Northumberland.Rothbury Moors WalkIntroduction We did this walk in August when the heather was in full bloom. We started the walk at the car park on the south side of the River Coquet at Rothbury. From the car park we crossed the river and walked through Rothburry up onto the heather clad moors on the north side of the village. We returned using roughly the same route with a few variations. Distance - Approx 4.5 miles
Walk 1) From the car park we crossed the River Couquet using the footbridge that leads to the village.
2) After crossing the footbridge we walked straight ahead to a path which leads up a narrow alley between gardens and houses to the village centre.
3) In the village we crossed the main road and walked up towards the Turks Head pub. We turned left here and followed the road out of the village.
4) After a short distance we reached St. Agnes Catholic Church where we turned right, off the main road.
5) We walked up the road called Gravelly Bank, which has good views across the Coquet Valley to Simonside. Near the top of the hill we turned right onto Hillside Road.
6) From here we walked along Hillside Road until we reached the junction with Blaeberry Hill, where we turned left.
7) We walked up Blaeberry Hill until we reached a footpath on the right just before a bend in the road.
8) We followed this narrow footpath uphill until we reached a stile. After crossing the stile we followed a path straight ahead into a forest.
9) From here we followed this footpath which was quite steep, uneven and overgrown in places. Near the top there was a deep hole which one of us managed to fall into!
10) At the top of this path we eventually emerged to a view of bracken and purple heather covered moors.
11) On leaving the forest we turned left and walked along a narrow path through deep heather. In the distance was a transmitter mast. Along this path there were great views in all directions.
12) We headed towards a large stone cairn which we could see in the distance, stopping here to admire the views.
13) After leaving the cairn we followed the path which took us to a wide track.
14) We turned left onto this track which was an old carriage drive built for Lord Armstrong. We followed this track with great views to the Cheviot Hills in the distance. After about three quarters of a mile we reached a path to the left. Ahead in the distance we could see the remains of Cartington Castle.
15) At this point we could have turned left and down into the valley. Instead we decided to turn around and follow the track back the way we came, to make the most of the views on such a fine, sunny day.
16) When we arrived back at the path from the cairn, instead of turning off we continued along the carriageway track towards the transmitter mast.
17) After passing the mast we walked on until we reached the forest again. Here we turned right, onto the narrow path we had walked up earlier.
18) We walked down through the forest and emerged again onto Blaeberry Hill.
19) At the bottom of Blaeberry Hill we turned right onto Hillside Road. Almost straight opposite, on the left, we turned down a narrow path with a handrail. We followed this path downhill and soon saw why the handrail was there. The path was steep and very slippery in places.
20) At the bottom of this path we emerged onto a road which we followed to a junction with a cottage opposite.
21) We turned left here and walked along the road until we reached a narrow path on the right at the Co-op Funeral Service building. We followed this path which emerged at the High Street.
22) We turned left along the High Street and continued to the junction with Bridge Street where we crossed and turned right. We walked along Bridge Street to the bridge, turning off on the path to the left, down to the River Coquet.
23) We turned right and walked under the bridge onto the riverside footpath. After a short distance we arrived back at the footbridge where we crossed back to the car park.
Notes
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