An old favourite (Northumberland ) October 9th

  Today six of us are wandering a well worn path from Alwinton  high in the Coquet valley. Today's team is John H., John L., Margaret, Brian, Dave and me.

The village of Alwinton has a few houses and, most important, a pub, the Rose and Thistle. To find this attractive spot A1 North, A697 at Morpeth, turn off at Weldon Bridge, go through Rothbury and Thropton and watch for a signpost on the right for Harbottle and Alwinton.

Park on the grass verge by the stream as you reach the village or go down the road to the National Park car park and pay as much as £2, but there are toilets.                                                                                                The map to use is OS OL 16 Cheviot Hills

                     This week's uncropped car park at Alwinton. There is a plastic mesh, clearly visible, which prevents the area becoming a muddy swamp. Across the road from this point is a small bus shelter which serves as a booting up area and also has a shelf of unwanted paper back books, plus a small bowl for financial contributions if you buy one. Good idea.

The walk;

We crossed the small stream by the parking area using the footbridge and turned left up a track through a farm yard and on uphill on Clennell Street which is an ancient drove road running from Kelso to Morpeth. At one point A Cross Dyke is visible, but only just. Designed as a means of persuading a herd of cows or sheep into a gap where they will spend the night it reminded me of the low walls I saw at Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump in Canada. The walls there directed the animals towards a cliff where they died having gone over the edge, providing the people with meat, covers for their wigwams and other things. It was reckoned to have been used for 5000 years.                                                                  On the left is Castle Hill, an iron age fort, boundary walls visible. At one point there is a marker offering two tracks, we took the narrow footpath on the right which contours for a while before descending to the Clennell Valley floor near The Dodd.

                    Looking back towards Alwinton

                     Bright day in Northumberland.

having reached the track in the valley we turned and followed it, going south east alongside the River Alwin. Ignoring the path off on the left to Puncherton we continued a distance further before turning off east and following the footpath to Old Rooklands. It is a narrow path, climbing initially and crossing at least one tiny stream before it reaches the tumbledown remains of Old Rooklands which is always a Herbie Spot.

                               Tumbledown Old Rooklands

              Socially distanced diners; Dave, Margaret and Brian. Today's feast included Skinny Whip bars, flapjacks, almond slices and savoury tarts and applecake from Mrs A.

Lunch over we continued on our way east past the small hut and joined the track and over the hill to a point near Rookland farm where, for a very short distance we walked along a road, turned right and followed the minor road.

Not far along this minor road we followed the directions of a signpost on the right and crossed a recently harvested field to Newton. Just south of the farm another signpost on the left took us across a field which had a herd of cows and calves in it so we took great care! 

                   Newton Farm and one of the cows, looks like it's doing a bit of a dance.

Several more fields later we were at Well House and walked down the lane towards The Peels. This lane is famous for its daffodils and the ladies who tend them.

One of the fields we crossed had this unusual scare kite

From The Peels we followed tracks and muddy paths along the Border County Ride through Ferny Wood and over Hob's Knowe to Park House.

                         House of mystery on the way back to Alwinton. Always looks empty.

                       Yes it's a Lime Kiln

Not far from here we were back on the road into Alwinton and the car park.

           St Michael and all Angels, Alwinton, dating back to the 11th century.

Changed we went for refreshment in the village pub, The Rose and Thistle. Disappointingly it only had one hand pulled beer and having sampled it we went on to the Shoulder of Mutton in Longhorsley, which had two.

          Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2020

This walk is just under 9 fairly easy going miles and offers beautiful views of the area.

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