A697 BOULMER Heather Moors A Stone Age Inheritance ALNWICK River Aln B6341 ALNMOUTH A1068 Heather moorland appears to be The first farmers in this area one of the most natural cleared the forest in the early WARKWORTH B6341 COQUET ISLAND landscapes in Britain. However, Stone Age (or Neolithic) and AMBLE without management by farmers ROTHBURY ploughed the land. On these B6345 R and game keepers many of the iv B6344 er FELTON sandstone hills the soils are very Co que moorlands would become t A1068 DRURIDGE BAY A697 A1 WALKS light and they did not stay fertile WIDDRINGTON IN NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND woodland. It is quite surprising B6341 for very long. Consequently the OTTERBURN B6342 to find that one of ELSDON CRESSWELL crops became less successful and Northumberland’s more typical the land was abandoned. The Rothbury (2) landscapes depends on human SCOTS GAP plants which have grown on A696 ASHINGTON NEWBIGGIN-BY-THE-SEA B6343 A short linear walk along the River Coquet intervention for its survival. CAMBO MORPETH k Riv nsbec these poor soils ever since are A68 B6342 er Wa To BEDLINGTON to an ancient mill, and a 5 mile circular walk to N e w A192 A1068 heather and bilberry. The early ca © Crown copyright stle BLYTH the heather moors high above Rothbury Managing heather farmers later used the area for u moorland grazing their stock. The sheep General Start/Finish grazed tree seedlings and kept the The walk to Thrum Mill and back is Cowhaugh car park 1. Since the early part of the 19th moor open. 13/4 miles (3km), 45 mins, and century moors have been used In recent years the number of follows the River Coquet on a level Be a Welcome Visitor for shooting grouse. Grouse need sheep on the moors has path. Whilst visiting the Coquet Valley heather of different ages to eat increased. The sheep prefer to eat The longer walk is 5 miles (8km), take care not to disturb wildlife and to nest. The game keepers young heather shoots and more allow 3 hours for a leisurely pace. habitats. Remember that the are experts at managing the sheep mean fewer young heather Some paths may be wet or muddy countryside is where farmers earn extensive areas of heather. They plants. The result is that the in places, and there is a moderately their living. Please respect their life burn small patches of old heather steep climb out of Rothbury which heather on moorlands is and work and leave no litter. during the winter. On the burnt is rewarded with panoramic views. gradually replaced by coarse grass areas heather seeds germinate Three stiles are crossed on the walk. Dog Walkers and grow. The regular burning which does not provide such Please keep your dogs on leads to creates a mosaic of heather of good habitat for birds and other Public Transport prevent disturbance to stock and different ages. moorland wildlife. Rothbury can be reached by bus wildlife. from Newcastle and Morpeth. Details from traveline 0870 6082608. Birds on heather Woodland Services Rothbury has public toilets and a Car parking wide range of local services. The Grouse are not the only birds to In areas where fire and sheep Cars can be parked in Cowhaugh car National Park Centre provides benefit from this management. don’t reach, trees have found a park (NU 057015) just west of the tourist information, sales and Curlew and golden plover nest foothold and woodlands have B6342 to Cambo. displays. on heather moors. If you’re lucky become established. you may also see birds of prey The main trees are pine and hunting over the heather. In the birch, species which can cope past birds of prey were often seen with the poor soil conditions, as pests and shot or trapped but but there is also some thanks to better protection their rhododendron. Rhododendron persecution has reduced. was introduced from the Northumberland County Council Countryside Service If you would like to know more about our work send an A4 SAE to: Himalayas in the 19th century. It Northumberland Countryside Service, Northumberland County Council, looks pretty when it flowers in County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF. early summer, but is often regarded as a pest. It casts deep A large print version of this shade and smothers other plants leaflet is available so nothing will grow underneath. Reprinted in May 2002. Printed on environmentally friendly paper. Thrum Mill Route description The mill at Thrum bm was once a busy flour mill along the 1 From Cowhaugh car park, main road to Rothbury. The cross the footbridge and follow mill used the concentrated the path straight ahead towards water power of the Coquet at the centre of Rothbury. Cross this point to mill grain. The the main road, to the shops, mill was first recorded in 1693 and turn left following the when it belonged to the Earl of pavement uphill. Bear right before St. Agnes Northumberland. The water in Catholic Church, and follow the river is pushed through a the pavement to the top of the channel only 2 m wide but hill, then continue straight almost 5 m deep. ahead along Hillside West. Physic Lane The Whinhams Addycombe 2 At the junction continue Masts straight ahead along the track Cragside (NT) signposted to Physic Lane. Hillside East. Continue up the track, and as it School Addycombe bends left take the path marked Westhills Farm Gardens straight ahead along the stone Depot wall. Hillside West Pondicherry Thrum Physic Lane 3 At the top of the hill cross a Mill RIV stone wall using the stone stile, ER Rothbury CO QU Thropton Road Legend has it and continue across the field to ET another stone stile (about 30 that the Knights yards down from a gate). Golf Course Hospitallers of Continue across a second field St. John of Whitton (slightly downhill) to reach a Jerusalem had a wooden stile. hospital at the Newtown bottom of 4 Turn right onto a path Physic Lane 4 (known as Physic Lane) and during the 13th © Crown copyright, Northumberland County Council LA 076775/97/13 follow it around the wood and and 14th centuries. They then as it bends left towards the probably gathered wild flowers, 6 bk open moorland. Continue along the track pass between houses to reach road and take the main road on Follow the road past the herbs and rose hips which are a through the woodland, ignoring the road. the left which goes past the Post stepping stones and take the very good source of vitamin C, 5 Go through the gate onto a public footpath on the right Office and toilets. Cross the riverside path ahead at the calcium, phosphorous and the open moorland. Cross the (this paths decent is very steep!). 8 Turn right onto the road bridge and turn right, back to depot on the left. iron. The Knights may have track and bear diagonally right (Hillside East) and after a few the car park. gathered the rose hips here to on a rough path to join a stony 7 After several sharp bends yards turn left, down some bl Turn right on the gravel track. Turn right and follow this take the path marked to the steps. Follow the footpath Thrum Mill track and continue ahead make a tonic to fend off track as it winds across the right. Continue along this path towards the town. At the stone between the buildings down to coughs, and treat sore throats heather moor, past the and go straight ahead across a terrace turn right, follow the 9 From the Cowhaugh car the gorge at Thrum. and bleeding gums. The leaves television and mobile phone track, and behind some houses. road down past the school and park cross the footbridge and of elder, which also grows here masts and eventually to a gate Follow the path down the hill turn right at the main road. To turn right along the riverside. bm Follow the same path back were used in an ointment to into the woodland. and bear left at the bottom to reach the car park, cross the Pass under the road bridge. to Rothbury. ease swellings and bruises. .