Rock climbing in Northumberland

Northumberland has a vibrant and dedicated climbing community and there are plenty of rock faces to keep you busy.

For example, the Simonside Hills, near Rothbury, has three fine crags - Simonside itself, Selby's Cover and Ravensheugh. Further north there are the Thrunton, Coe and Callaly crags and to the west is Sandy Crag, Linshiels, The Drakestone and South Yardhope.

For those who like to climb without ropes, Northumberland has a reputation for brilliant bouldering. Gimmerknowe and Ship Rock which are on the hillside over the Western end of Rothbury are known nationally.

Most of the best routes are in the Northumberland National Park, for more information go to www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/rockclimbing. You'll also find a full list of the county's best crags at the Northumberland Mountaineering Club website.

If you like to climb in historic surroundings, there are routes and crags around Hadrian's Wall on land owned by the National Trust - rock faces at Walltown and Vindolanda are of particular note.

If the weather turns for the worse and you need to get some indoor practice in there is a well-established climbing wall in Newcastle -www.climbnewcastle.com- where you can meet people from the region's climbing community who can give you the low down on the North East scene.

As you would expect, the same rules apply to climbers in Northumberland as anywhere else. Leave the countryside as you'd find it, park in a convenient place, and close all gates behind you.

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act gives you a legal right to climb on designated land and to access routes except where restrictions are in place. If in doubt, ask the landowner.