Rothbury

The picturesque town of Rothbury makes the perfect centre for a day in the hills. This route takes you among the beautiful heather moors from which you can look down upon the town and also enjoy breathtaking views of the Cheviot Hills. Rothbury itself has earned an enviable local reputation for its cafes – try a sustaining cuppa and cake. A little further afield, the beautiful National Trust properties of Cragside and Wallington both have stunning houses and gardens to explore and the surrounding villages along the Coquet Valley are also worth a visit. The whole area has strong connections with Northumbrian music – visit the Northumberland National Park Centre in Rothbury for more details.

START/PARKING

Start the walk at Cowhaugh car park. Enter Rothbury and turn left along Bridge Street, signposted B6342 to Cambo. Cross the bridge and turn right towards the car park.
OS Map Grid Reference NU057015

RECOMMENDED ROUTE

1. From Cowhaugh car park, cross the footbridge and follow the path straight ahead towards the centre of Rothbury. Cross the main road to the shops, and turn left following the pavement uphill. Bear right before St Agnes Catholic Church, ignore the public footpath to Hillside Road, and follow the pavement to the top of the hill, then continue straight ahead along Hillside West.
2. At the junction continue straight ahead along the track signposted to Physic Lane. Continue up the track and as it bends left take the path marked straight ahead along the stone wall. Climb a wooden stile and continue up the hill.
3. At the top of the hill cross a stone wall using the stone stile, and continue across the field to another stone stile (about 30 metres down from a gate). Continue across a second field (slightly downhill) to reach a wooden stile.
4. Turn right onto a path (known as Physic Lane) and follow it through a gate and around the edge of the wood bearing right and then left towards open moorland - ignore the two gates on your right as you walk.
5. Go through the gate that crosses the path and opens up to moorland. Cross the track in front of the gate and bear diagonally right up through the moorland on a rough path to join a stony track. Turn right and follow this track as it meanders across the heather moor, past the television and mobile phone masts and eventually to a gate into the woodland - stop and take in the breathtaking views.
6. Continue on the long track through the woodland, ignoring a public footpath on the right (this descent is very steep!).
7. After several sharp bends take the path marked to the right. Continue along this path and go straight ahead across a track and behind some houses - through a narrow path. Follow the path downhill and bear left at the bottom to pass between houses to reach the road.
8. Turn right onto the road (Hillside East) and after a few metres turn left, down some steps. Follow the footpath towards the town heading through several kissing gates. At the stone terrace turn right, follow the road down past the school and turn right at main road. To reach the car park, cross the road and take the main road on the left, which goes past the Post Office and toilets. Cross the bridge and turn right back to the car park.