The perfect hikes in Northumberland Nationwide Park reveal an underappreciated however totally pleasant expanse of English countryside
Amid the traditional rolling hills between the Scottish border and England’s industrial northeast, one can find Northumberland Nationwide Park. England’s most northerly nationwide park can be the least visited in Britain and the least populated in England and Wales with simply over 2,000 residents.
Overlaying an space of 1,049km2, this rugged, remoted panorama is finest recognized for the UNESCO World Heritage Website of Hadrian’s Wall that slices throughout England’s countryside from coast to coast.
However there’s extra to Northumberland than historical milecastles and crumbling forts. This timeless panorama is residence to the rolling Cheviot Hills straddling the Anglo-Scottish border; the UK’s most photographed tree; and Kelder Forest, England’s largest artifical woodland.
So far as wildlife goes, roe deer, wild goats, pink squirrels, moorland gamebirds and the uncommon black grouse can all be seen contained in the park.
What’s extra, in 2013, it was designated a Darkish Sky Park which implies it is protected against synthetic gentle air pollution to advertise astronomy within the area. In actual fact, it’s the largest space of protected evening sky in Europe making it one of many UK’s finest locations to stargaze.
Over 1,100km of trails make the park certainly one of England’s selection strolling locations. Right here, we share the perfect hikes in Northumberland Nationwide Park – 12 distinctive methods to discover England’s distant north.
Greatest hikes in Northumberland Nationwide Park
We’ve chosen the perfect hikes in Northumberland Nationwide Park to go well with each capacity, from light undulating day journeys to difficult multi-day treks.
For extra data on issues to do and the place to remain in Northumberland Nationwide Park, go to the nationwide park web site.
1. Sycamore Hole
Distance: 4km (2.5mi)
Period: 1-2 hours
Problem: Simple
Within the effectively of a putting dip alongside the Hadrian’s Wall Path as soon as sat the 2016 English Tree of the 12 months (sure, there is a tree of the 12 months). Planted between 1860 and 1890 by the earlier landowner, John Clayton, the sycamore tree was one of the photographed timber within the nation. Chances are you’ll recognise it from the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves because the sycamore tree that the boy Wulf climbs to evade Man of Gisborne and his males.
Tragically, in 2023, the tree was minimize down in what police imagine was a deliberate act of vandalism. The toppling of the tree led to an outpouring of anger and astonishment. Whereas there’s some hope nature might reply and the tree might develop again, this can take centuries.
The path has now change into one thing of a pilgrimage however stays a nice stroll in its personal proper whatever the lack of the tree. Additionally it is the proper introduction to Northumberland Nationwide Park and its most well-known landmark, Hadrian’s Wall. The quick however candy journey has the bonus of beginning and ending on the Twice Brewed Inn, a pub recognized for its home-brewed ales and hearty Northumberland sausages.
2. Greenlee Lough
Distance: 5.5km (3.6mi)
Period: 1-2 hours
Problem: Simple
Greenlee Lough is the most important pure lake in Northumberland and the encircling wetlands make for an idyllic setting, significantly throughout spring when the cotton grass and yellow flag iris burst to life.
The footpath can be an important place for birdwatching. The shallow Greenlee is brimming with perch, which makes it a straightforward searching floor for osprey. The birds of prey typically dangle round for a few weeks throughout their annual migration southwards in late summer season and early autumn.
3. Otterburn Ranges
Distance: 13.5km (8.5mi)
Period: 4-5 hours
Problem: Average
Now we’re speaking. This transborder hike takes within the abandoned Otterburn Ranges. There are excellent panoramic vistas to be discovered on the summit of Brownhart Regulation, earlier than the path drops and crosses into Scotland.
The head of the hike is Blackhall Hill summit which presents the perfect views of the neighbouring hills and valleys, onwards throughout the Cheviot Hills and north into Scotland.
The British army has used the vary for coaching workout routines for over 100 years. If pink flags are flying, then there can be sure areas off-limits. All the time stick with the designated footpaths.
4. ALWINTON AND HARBOTTLE
Distance: 7.5km (4.5mi)
Period: 2-3 hours
Problem: Simple-moderate
The highlights of this meandering circuit embody two tranquil villages linked by footpaths crossing unspoiled meadows, and a quiet nation street passing the ruins of Harbottle Fort.
As soon as captured by Robert the Bruce, the Twelfth-century sandstone Harbottle Fort was constructed to miss the River Coquet and Coquet Gorge. The route passes the Drake Stone (often known as the Dragon Stone or Draak’s Stone), an outsized erratic boulder believed to have been utilized by druids.
5. Higher Coquetdale
Distance: 14km (9mi)
Period: 3-4 hours
Problem: Average
The inexperienced ridgelines and steep-sided valleys of Higher Coquetdale and the Cheviot Hills are a beautiful step up from the above village route. This wild stroll shortly leaves civilisation behind and beneficial properties some floor because the path fords its method north in direction of the Scottish border.
The excessive level of the stroll is close to Saughy Hill at 465m, from the place the Scottish border could be seen on the northern horizon. As above, the hike begins within the village of Alwinton the place Walter Scott wrote his well-known novel, Rob Roy, taking inspiration from the encircling countryside.
6. Simonside Hills
Distance: 12km (7.5mi)
Period: 3-4hours
Problem: Average
Crags, conifer forests, heather moorland and fairies outline this hike to Simonside summit the place a 360° view of the Cheviot Hills and the North Sea shoreline await. En route, varied historical cairns and distinctive crags mark the a number of excessive factors of the undulating ridge.
The Simonside Hills are additionally the topic of a number of folklore legends of ‘fairies’ and ‘little individuals’, probably the most well-known of that are the Duergar. In accordance with Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, the Duergar had been ‘dwarfs who dwell in rocks and hills; famous for his or her energy, subtlety, magical powers, and talent in metallurgy.’ Preserve your eyes peeled.
7. Hareshaw Linn Waterfall
Distance: 5km (3mi)
Period: 1-2 hours
Problem: Simple
Waterfalls by no means fail to please and Hareshaw Linn is the area’s most interesting. The quick hike begins at Bellingham, as soon as the location of an ironworks.
The path follows the Hareshaw Burn (river) because it winds its method via a wooded valley. No fewer than six bridges cross the Hareshaw Burn at varied levels earlier than the monitor arrives on the 10m-high Hareshaw Linn.
Relying on the time of 12 months (and day), pink squirrels, woodpeckers, warblers, flycatchers, badgers and bats could be seen within the woodland.
8. School Valley
Distance: 8km (5mi)
Period: 2-3 hours
Problem: Average
The broad School Valley is about as tranquil a spot as one can think about. The flat path roams alongside the School Burn southwards earlier than crossing the burn and returning northwards on the adjoining aspect.
The river twists and turns its method alongside the vast unspoilt valley with interlocking moorland hills ever-present on the horizon. The close by native woodlands present shelter for roe deer, hares and wild Cheviot goats, that are incessantly seen on the hillside close to Hethpool Mill.
9. Elsdon Burn
Distance: 4km (2.5mi)
Period: 1-2 hours
Problem: Simple
One other great river stroll, the Elsdon Burn route is a well-liked choice for households.
Factors of curiosity embody the Twelfth-century church at Elsdurn which is reputed to carry the lifeless from the 1388 Battle of Otterburn, the relics of a motte-and-bailey citadel, a medieval Pele tower (certainly one of a number of constructed alongside the Scottish borders), a pub and an Impromptu Tea Room (that’s really its identify) at The Previous Faculty Home.
10. Greenhaugh and Thorneyburn
Distance: 4km (2.5mi)
Period: 1-2 hours
Problem: Simple-moderate
The Greenhaugh and Thorneyburn loop path enjoys some pleasant views throughout the Tarset Valley. En route, there are a number of ‘bastles’ – fortified farmhouses – that had been constructed throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to repel the raids alongside the Anglo-Scottish border.
In late spring and summer season, the hay meadows of Boughthill Farm can be in full bloom with an array of wildflowers corresponding to ox-eye daisies, orchids, buttercups, yellow rattle, ragged robins and melancholy thistle all on show.
11. Hadrian’s Wall Path
Distance: 35km (22mi)
Period: 2 days
Problem: Average-hard
The complete 135km (84mi) Hadrian’s Wall Path follows the defensive fortifications of the Roman province of Britannia that outlined the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire. Development started in 122 AD underneath the reign of the emperor Hadrian to maintain the ‘Barbarians’ to the north at bay.
At the moment, the clearly waymarked climbing path is certainly one of Britain’s hottest coast-to-coast routes. The 35km part that traverses Northumberland Nationwide Park might, in principle, be coated in a single day. Nevertheless, it’s much more fulfilling to unfold the course throughout a minimum of two days.
The path takes in Sycamore Hole in addition to a substantial chunk of the Northumberland Pennine Means.
12. Pennine Means
Distance: 102km (64mi)
Period: 4 days
Problem: Laborious
Opened in 1965, Britain’s oldest nationwide path crosses among the most interesting upland landscapes in England. It’s by far probably the most well-known and one of the common of Britain’s long-distance footpaths.
The Pennine Means begins within the Peak District and runs 431km (268mi) northwards, all the best way throughout the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District, to the village of Kirk Yetholm, simply contained in the Scottish border.
The ultimate part passes via Northumberland Nationwide Park and takes in most of the above hikes together with a big part of the Hadrian’s Wall Path. In doing so, it showcases the perfect of the nationwide park from the traditional websites within the south to the Cheviot Hills to the north and every thing in between.
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