25 August 2024
Rothbury, a busy Northumberland town with a range of independent shops and businesses, nestles below this craggy range of hills in Northumberland. I started from the free car park on the opposite bank of the River Coquet from the main part of the town.
My route left the built-up area almost immediately on the route of St Oswald’s Way, a 97-mile long distance path from Heavenfield on Hadrian’s Wall to Lindisfarne. Oswald was born in the early seventh century and defeated the Welsh and Mercian forces to take control of Northumbria.
The route skirted the village of Whitton on small lanes and paths. I passed Sharp’s folly. The tower was built as an observatory funded by Reverend Dr Thomas Sharp, Rector of Rothbury who had a keen interest in astronomy. The building of the tower was also a philanthropic act providing employment for many people in the area who found themselves out of work.
I followed the path past a farm where I held the gate open for a cyclist. Only a few metres further on, I was on open moorland climbing towards an area that promised cup and ring marked rocks as well as the remains of an Iron Age fort. I was overtaken by a group of runners and a dog, a female runner well ahead and definitely outclassing the rest. They were still at the summit, letting the stragglers catch their breath as I arrived.
The runners took the onward path down to a car park while I explored the smaller paths on the left and the right to the remains of Lordenshaws hillfort and to a cup and ring marked rock. There were views across to the trig point on Garleigh Hill, but my route headed downhill to the car park on a minor road.
From the car park, my ascent on to the Simonside Ridge began. The route soon turned off St Oswald’s Way to hug the edge of the escarpment. It was a justifiably popular walk on a clear although windy Bank Holiday weekend. A descending walker warned me about strong winds on top but they were no more than a breeze compared to my experiences of recent days.
I followed the ridge path, reaching the granite tors: The Beacon Cairn, Dove Crag, Old Stell Crag and the highest point, Simonside Cairn (430m) in rapid succession. Throughout this time, I enjoyed extensive views to the Cheviots as well as the Coquet Valley and Rothbury.
The steep descent off Simonside was eased by flagstones and steps built to reduce erosion risks. I could have continued to the highpoint of the area – Tosson Hill (440m) but my route turned off into woodland. The forecast rain had started as I descended.
Once out of the woods, I deviated on a permissive path to the summit of Burgh Hill Iron Age fort.
A descent to Great Tosson followed and I stopped to view the remains of the listed Tosson Tower, built six hundred years ago as a defence against marauding Scots.
A few quiet lanes and tracks led to the banks of the Coquet River which I crossed on a footbridge and followed the riverside path back to Rothbury where I crossed another footbridge to return to the start point.
The Simonside range of hills, that I had never previously heard of, certainly provide scenic viewpoints and interesting walks.
Where's Kathryn? 
Nice walk. I loved the river Coquet at Warkworth
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