Posted: Wednesday 26 March 2008

North East Associates Rothbury Walk - 26th March

The strenuous part was at the start . . .

A cool, dry and calm morning greeted us at Rothbury (75m), in the heart of Northumberland, for our March walk.  Unfortunately eleven walkers didn't show up, pulling out at the last minute.  Puzzling, as this was a great walk in a beautiful area - and thus 46 Associates started the day by tackling a long climb from the south of the village. Those on the longer walk, of over six miles, continued with a slightly less arduous ascent to Garleigh Moor (268m) and Lordenshaw where there are remains of an Iron Age hill fort and many rocks carved with "cup-and-ring" marks from this early period.

The other group, set to walk about five miles, reached their highest point of 212m with beautiful views in the hazy sunshine.

Heads down - here comes the RAF!

To the south we could see the other party silhouetted against the sky on the snowy higher hill heading in he direction of the dramatic Simonside Hills.  The snow highlighted some of the old farming patterns on the hillside also.
To the north the view over Rothbury looked to the large woodland around the Cragside Estate developed by Lord Armstrong (now NT), and beyond that the relatively flat but snow covered summit of The Cheviot shining in the sunshine.  At 815m this is the highest spot in Northumberland.

Recent snow was still lingering in shaded corners, and new life - the spring lambs - was appearing in the fields.  Lambing here no doubt being a few weeks later than in the more southerly regions.

Here comes the RAF again!!

The gentle descent was less of a strain than the ascent as we headed for the River Coquet which was followed back to Rothbury, continuing the scenic theme of the walk.