Rothbury

Known as the Capital of Coquetdale, the traditional market town of Rothbury is built of the same mellow sandstone as the rolling hills that surround it.

The town offers a peaceful haven as the River Coquet meanders through the centre, creating a pleasant walk along the river bank. A good range of shops can be found on the High Street as well as a selection of pubs and tearooms.

Rothbury is in the centre of Northumberland and is therefore an ideal base for exploring. It’s just 30 minutes to the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and three minutes to the hills. From Rothbury you can explore the surrounding Simonside and Cheviot Hills and all of Northumberland National Park. Walkers and cyclists will love the spectacular countryside. Look out for the cup & ring rock carvings at Lordenshaws, and the First World War practice trenches located on a hillside to the north of the village.

About two miles from Rothbury is Cragside House, Gardens and Estate, former home of the Victorian industrialist Lord Armstrong. The first house to be lit by hydroelectricity, Cragside is also now one of the last strongholds of the Red Squirrel.

The picturesque Lady's Well at nearby Holystone is an ancient well thought to have been constructed by the Romans on the site of a natural spring.