A Walk from Alwinton

 Alwinton, Puncherton, Rookland. Not Carey Burn. October 10th

It's quite some time since we gadgies walked from Alwinton, a village in Coquetdale, nestling in the Cheviot Hills.

North on the A1, turn off at Morpeth on the A697, turn off and drive through Rothbury and finally turn off right for Alwinton. Park on the roadside as you reach the village or use the car park further on.

The walk is covered by OS OL 16 The Cheviot Hills.

Parking in Alwinton. Directly opposite the bus stop and telephone box. There is a layer of heavy plastic mesh that stops the car park getting muddy.

Behind the car park there is a footbridge crossing the River Alwin., we started the walk here, on Clennell Street..  The "street" is an ancient drove road from Kelso to Morpeth, free of drovers since medieval times. And once called Ermspeth, Anglo Saxon for Eagles Path. Not many eagles around today. We climbed steadily, if not enthusiastically, on a metal track which became a grassy track. The street is crossed at one point by a Cross Dyke, a long raised mound, the purpose of which is not really known. There are two more further on. We continued on the path, gently rising and falling for almost three miles before reaching the pl;antations at Kidland.

                               A grand day for views in the hills

                          Not what you really expect to find in the country!

The ruins in front of the shed were once a Youth Hostel.

Turning east we walked a metalled forest track to Kidland Lee, once a farm, now a selection of holiday chalets.

                                    Kidland Lee

Almost hidden in a corner, a marker pointed us downhill on a narrow footpath to the River Alwin.

At the five mile marker we called a Herbie; cookies, applepies and sweet and savoury from Mrs A.

                                     Herbie time.

Lunch over we followed a very narrow footpath to meet the main grass track up the Dodd, a steep climb but worth it for the vistas. From the top we walked more track, one that curved gently round to the farm at Puncherton. Following a bridle path at mile 7 we turne south east, then south to the road near Rooklands Farm.

                            Puncherton Farm. The farmer advised us to use a gate, we think.

            The ruins of the Old Rookllands Farm are to the right of the trees. Once a favourite walk.

Having crossed a few fields we reached the village of Clennell, which has a church, a hall and a caravan park. It also has a ford but most of us decided the water was over boots and took the path along the river to a footbridge. Two more fields and we were back on Clennell Street and then at the cars.

On the way home we stopped at The Shoulder of Mutton in Longhorsley which had TTL and zero Guinness.

Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2025

The walk is about 11 miles. Some short but steep climbs, Some beautiful views. Alwinton is at 500feet above sealevel. The Dodd is just under 1500.

                                                A triple stile!