Posted:  Tuesday 06 September 2011

North East Associates
"Survey" Rothbury in Northumberland

- Tuesday 6th September -

After our August rest from walking our meeting point this month is Rothbury, in the heart of Northumberland and straddling the fast-flowing River Coquet.
The village is now back to being a peaceful spot after hitting in the news last year with the drama and trauma of a manhunt.

Soon we were back in our stride and following the main street we headed onwards and upwards, taking a different route to those used by us in the recent past.
Our climb took us past Pondicherry Cottages from where the view south over the valley is rather spectacular.

Stuart, Phil, Bill & Steve - long walkers

Heading for Pondicherry

Twenty of us met up for the exercise, today in bright sunshine which was cooled by a brisk breeze.  No breaking-in for us after the time gap, this walk was challenging.  The weather forecast had promised rain - and lots of it - which was maybe why nearly half that number had called to cancel their participation.
Our planners had got it right again though, and the rain held off until we reached the main street in Rothbury on our return.

From roads to tracks to paths to fields we continued, through farmland and up to fern then heather-clad moorland to reach our high point way above the valley.

Here we joined a wide track running around the hillside, this having been built in the late 19th century by Tyneside industrialist Lord Armstrong - William George, 1st Baron Armstrong of Cragside.  All of us managed to stay upright in the wind.

Used at first to carry stone from a nearby quarry, which we passed, for use on the country estate that he developed close by at Cragside (now NT), the track later became a carriage ride used by Armstrong himself and guests.  Following the contour for a while we were able to enjoy the views of the Cheviot Hills with Simonside dominating across the valley, and were also looking down to Rothbury's rooftops.

At a distance Simonside doesn't look so challenging as it is in reality!

Here we were able to get our breath back, and then after a slow descent prepared ourselves to tackle a narrow and rocky path which turned down steeply back towards the village.

Just checking!

Some respite for a while as we walked down Blaeberry Lane before another steep section into Rothbury - and then the rain came.  The longer walkers, at six miles to our five, returned just a few minutes before us and managed to stay dry!

We're in there, somewhere.  Caution was needed.

Rothbury Cross & the Newcastle Hotel

Rothbury Parish Church

Here the folks at the Newcastle Hotel were prepared for us, and a few more Associates who joined the party, cheerfully serving up good ale and good food which all enjoyed well into the afternoon.  The sun came out again.

ph

pictures:  rmh, hlp & ph

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