Walks in Rothbury 1

Distance: 2½ miles.
Time: 1hr.
Difficulty: 2
(1: easy, 4: difficult)

  A short walk but still quite challenging and requires a sense of Balance!

Start: Riverside Car Park, Rothbury. Map

Exit the Rothbury Cowhaugh car park, turn right, walk up the road in the opposite direction of the road bridge. You will pass the cemetery on your right hand side, burial place of “David Dippey Dixon”, famous local historian and author of “Upper Coquetdale, and “Whittingham Vale”.

When you reach the junction near the top of the hill large iron gates through which you can see a large stone house confront you, this is Whitton Pele and has existed here since about the 14th century. The Pele Tower protected the local Priest and his servants from the marauding Border Reivers.

Turn left signposted Whitton.

As you walk along the lane you have superb views of Cragside to your front, the Coquet Valley to your left, and if you turn around Simonside comes into view and dominates the view southwest. Follow the lane for ½ mile passing Silverton Lodge (Silverton Lodge and Silverton House were once part of the Rothbury Workhouse built in 1901)

Shortly after passing Silverton Lodge you come to another “T” junction. Turn left here, walk down hill until you see the Coquetvale Hotel, cross the road and turn right down a steep bank. Pass the auction mart and on to the riverside. This is where you sense of balance comes in. Cross the stepping-stones and turn right along the riverside, the path leads you to the Thrum Mill. (during periods of heavy rainfall the stepping stones will be impassable so instead of turning down the steep bank to the stepping stones stay on main road and walk a further 400yds, cross the road bridge then turn right along the north bank of the riverside and walk east away from the village)

The footpath in front of the Thrum Mill was once the main road into Rothbury. The Mill used to ground corn for the local bakers and for sale further a field. Just past the Mill you will see a steep sided gorge with a narrow channel worn through the rocks. This is known as the Thrum. The river at this point widens out into a very large picturesque lake-size pool, a favourite fishing ground for the majestic Heron which can often be seen perched on nearby rocks.

The Thrum Mill was on TV during 2013 when it was featured on the ‘Restoration Man’ program having undergone a complete renovation, the building was finished in 2014 when the mill wheel was re-installed.

Return by retracing you steps and walk back along the riverside, but don’t go over the stepping-stones. Continue along riverside, under the road bridge, and the path will bring you to the footbridge leading to the car park.

Hope you enjoyed your walk.