📌 Town in Northumberland
★★
The charming settlement of Rothbury is found in fertile Coquetdale, and is the gateway town for the southeast side of the Cheviot Hills. Its crossroads location by a key ford on the River Coquet was responsible for its early growth, becoming a market town for agricultural produce from the late 1200s. Border Reivers periodically made life difficult over the following centuries, leading to the building of several pele towers and bastles in the wider region – several of which are still worth viewing. The 19th century saw the arrival of the railway and tourism, as well as the nearby construction of Cragside stately home, now a popular attraction under the care of the National Trust. Rothbury’s other key draw is for walkers: there is easy access south into the splendid Simonside Hills from here (on foot), or west (probably by bus or car) to the myriad hills surrounding Upper Coquetdale.
🌍 Location
📌 Northumberland
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NU 057017
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.309656,-1.911664
🚶 Cragside Estate is under a mile away but the busy road has no pavement – take a bus. The local path network extends along the River Coquet, south into the Simonside Hills, or north towards Cragside’s old carriage drives.
🚌 Bus routes serve Alnwick, Morpeth, Newcastle and occasionally Upper Coquetdale.
Explore nearby
<1 mi away
>> Cragside (not yet featured)
<3 mi away
>> Lordenshaws ★★ (2 mi ↓)
>> Tosson Lime Kiln ★ (2 mi ←)
