A view from the terraces

 A view from the terraces  December 15th.

MUD WARNING

Stiil looking for firm tracks after the rain and snow six of us are out on a familiar walk from Rothbury. Brian, Margaret, Harry, Ian, John C and I are off to traverse the terraces above the town. Devised as carriage drives by Lord Armstrong they cross moorland and with a couple of forestry tracks make a mostly easy walk, hopefully.

Rothbury is reached by following the A1 north, taking the A697, turning left at Longframlington. In the town turn left down Bridge Street, cross the river, turn right and make use of the large and free car park.

Rothbury is on the edge of maps. The walk is covered by OS OL 42 Kielder Water                                     &  OS Explorer 332 Alnwick and Amble. Advisable.

                       Rothbury riverside car park. Not a winner.

Booted and windproofed we crossed the footbridge and headed to the Newcastle Hotel for breakfast, passing All Saints church on the way.

Al Saints, Saxon origins and Victorian rebuilding, with lots of additions inbetween.

 Once breakfast was finished we set off  up to the town centre, turned left  up Brewery Lane and passed the terrace of flats built by Lord Armstrong for his rtetired estate workers.

Addycombe Terrace flats 19th century

Taking a footpath on the left we crossed a field to a higher road, turned right and after a short distance took the footpath across fields to a forest track. (Mile 1). Turning left we followed the meandering track through Addycombe for a mile Before turning off (Mile 2) and taking a footpath across open land. More like a  muddy trench than a footpath, narrow and stony, crossing a footbridge and eventually reaching a forest track. Turning right this track took us to another, we turned left and at Mile 3 went through a gate on to open moorland.

                 Rothbury from the terraces.

The track took us on an almost semi-circular route until at Mile 4 we reached  Blue Mill

                  They are waiting for the old ones to catch up.

After a half mile of gentle uphill walking we took the footpath on the right, crossed a stone stile and were back on open land on a fair track.

                             A proper stile

On previous occasions we have stopped along this track for a Herbie but it was cold and windy so at Mile 5 we went through the gate and walked downhill to Physic Lane.

                      This way for Physic Lane

                      Thropton from Physic Lane.

Close to the Cross Keys pub we made good use of a bus shelter for a Herbie: Mince pies, lemon cake and savoury bun from Mrs A.

Crossing the stream we walked through the coach park and took the footpath round to a footbridge over the River Coquet.

Crossing the Coquet.

We expected the fields to be a marsh after the recent rains but they were merely damp and we followed the river bank to a footbridge just before mile 8. 

                              One more footbridge.

Once across and having taken the field path and scambled up a short but muddy bank we were on the Rothbury riverside footpath which took us back to the car park.

Rehydration at the Ridley Arms in Stannington. Anarchy Blonde, very drinkable.

                     Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2023.

The walk is about 9 miles, easy going with a couple of short climbs.