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Rothbury Moors Walk

Introduction

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
Parking - Rothbury main car park
Toilets - In Rothbury Village

Cairn overlooking the Coquet Valley
Cairn overlooking the Coquet Valley
View to the Cheviot Hills
View to the Cheviot Hills

Walk

1) From the car park we crossed the River Couquet using the footbridge that leads to the village.

Footbridge across the River Coquet
Footbridge across the River Coquet

View along the River Coquet
View along the River Coquet

 

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.

Footpath from the footbridge
Footpath from the footbridge
Approaching Rothbury village centre
Approaching Rothbury 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.

Rothbury village centre
Rothbury village centre
Leaving the west end of the village
Leaving the west end of the village

 

4) After a short distance we reached St. Agnes Catholic Church where we turned right, off the main road.

Turning off the main road at St. Agnes Catholic Church

 

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.

Walking up the road called Gravelly Bank
Walking up the road called Gravelly Bank
Turning right onto Hillside Road
Turning right onto Hillside Road

 

6) From here we walked along Hillside Road until we reached the junction with Blaeberry Hill, where we turned left.

Walking along Hillside Road
Walking along Hillside Road
Turning left from Hillside Road onto Blaeberry Hill
Turning left from Hillside Road onto Blaeberry Hill

 

7) We walked up Blaeberry Hill until we reached a footpath on the right just before a bend in the road.

Turning from Blaeberry Hill to the footpath up to the fells
Turning from Blaeberry Hill to the footpath to the fells
Narrow footpath to the fells
Narrow footpath to the fells

 

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.

Style at the entrance to the forest
Style at the entrance to the forest
Footpath through the forest
Footpath through the 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!

Footpath through the forest Footpath through the forest
Footpath through the forest Footpath through the forest

Views along the footpath through the forest

 

10) At the top of this path we eventually emerged to a view of bracken and purple heather covered moors.

At the top of the path through the forest
At the top of the path through the forest
Leaving the forest at the top of the path
Leaving the forest at the top of the path

 

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.

Walking through the heather Walking through the heather
Walking through the heather
Walking towards the cairn Walking towards the cairn
Walking towards the large cairn
Looking over the moors
Looking over the moors
View down to Rothbury
View down to Rothbury

 

12) We headed towards a large stone cairn which we could see in the distance, stopping here to admire the views.

Walking towards the large cairn
Walking towards the large cairn
Cairn overlooking the Coquet Valley
Cairn overlooking the Coquet Valley

 

13) After leaving the cairn we followed the path which took us to a wide track.

View looking east from the cairn
View looking east from the cairn
Walking along the old carriageway
Walking along the old carriageway

 

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.

Walking along the old carriageway
Walking along the old carriageway
Walking along the old carriageway Walking along the old carriageway
Walking along the old carriageway Walking along the old carriageway
Walking along the old carriageway Walking along the old carriageway
Views while walking along the old carriageway

 

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.

Walking back along the carriageway track

Walking back along the carriageway track
Walking back along the carriageway track Walking back along the carriageway track
Walking back along the carriageway track

 

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.

Walking back along the carriageway track

Walking back along the carriageway track
Walking back along the carriageway track Walking back along the carriageway track
Walking back along the carriageway track

Walking back along the carriageway track

 

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.

Approaching the turn off back to Rothbury
Approaching the turn off back to Rothbury
Footpath back to Rothbury
Footpath back to Rothbury

 

18) We walked down through the forest and emerged again onto Blaeberry Hill.

Walking back down through the forest
Walking back down through the forest
Walking back down Blaeberry Hill
Walking back down 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.

Junction of Blaeberry Hill and Hillside Road
Junction of Blaeberry Hill and Hillside Road
Narrow path down from Hillside Road
Narrow path down from Hillside Road

 

20) At the bottom of this path we emerged onto a road which we followed to a junction with a cottage opposite.

Back Crofts
Walking down Back Crofts
Junction at bottom of Back Crofts
Junction at bottom of Back Crofts

 

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.

Footpath down to the High Street
Footpath down to 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.

Back on the High Street
Back on the High Street
Toy shop on the corner
Toy shop on the corner
Turning right towards the bridge
Turning right towards the bridge
Footpath to the left of the bridge
Footpath to the left of the bridge

 

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.

Passing under the bridge
Passing under the bridge
Walking beside the River Coquet to the footbridge
Walking beside the River Coquet to the footbridge

 

Notes

Walking Gear:

- Good walking boots advisable.

- Waterproof clothing advisable depending on the weather forecast.

Food and drink advisable.

Maps - Ordnance Survey Landranger sheet no. 81 - Alnwick and Morpeth.

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