A697 Sharp’s Folly The Meandering Coquet B6341 Sharp’s Folly 7 was built by The rises high in A1068 Thomas Sharp, who was rector of the Cheviots on the border with WARKWORTH B6341 between 1720 and and enters the sea at 1758. It was built, primarily, to Amble 88 km later. ROTHBURY B6345 R iv B6344 relieve unemployment among The river changes its course er FELTON Co que local stone masons. Sharp used from one century to the next, t A1068 DRURIDGE BAY A697 A1 WALKS WIDDRINGTON IN NORTH the tower as an observatory when something which can be seen by B6341 OTTERBURN B6342 he was studying the stars. comparing different old maps. ELSDON CRESSWELL Whitton Tower is hidden in The river washes away the Rothbury (1) the trees opposite the kissing gate outside of its channel until a SCOTS GAP A696 NEWBIGGIN-BY-THE-SEA B6343 A circular walk in the beautiful Coquet Valley with an loop is cut off. This loop is MORPETH k 7. This is where the rectors of Riv nsbec A68 B6342 er Wa known as an ox-bow lake. Some To extension to Lordenshaws Iron Age Hillfort N Rothbury (including Sharp) used e w A192 A1068 of these old river bends can be ca stle BLYTH to live. It also used to house the up seen in wet weather (when they on Ty er Bl y th A1 ne Riv A1068 rector’s livestock on the ground ® © Crown copyright fill up with water) or when there SEATON SLUICE floor during the time that this is snow on the ground. area was regularly sacked by bands of reivers from Scotland, General Be a Welcome Visitor The shorter walk is 41/2 miles (7.5 Whilst visiting the Coquet Valley Redesdale or . Development of an km), 2 1/ take care not to disturb wildlife ox-bow lake 2 hours. The longer walk is 6 miles (9.6km), 31/2 hours. Some of habitats. Remember that the the paths are across rough farmland. countryside is where farmers earn Along the river the path may be wet. their living. Please respect their life and work and leave no litter. 1. River meander Public Transport Rothbury can be reached by bus Dog Walkers Areas of Deposition of sand from Newcastle and Morpeth. Details Please keep your dogs on leads to erosion and gravel from Traveline, 0870 6082608. prevent disturbance to stock and wildlife.

2. Accelerated erosion and deposition Car parking Cars can be parked in Cowhaugh car Services park (NU 057015) just west of the Ox-Bow Rothbury has public toilets and a Cut offs as lake river breaks B6342 to Cambo. wide range of local services. The through National Park Centre provides Start/Finish tourist information, sales and Cowhaugh car park1 . displays. 3. Ox-bow formed and gradually silts up

Northumberland County Council Countryside Service If you would like to know more about our work send an A4 SAE to: Northumberland Countryside Service, Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.

A large print version of this leaflet is available

Reprinted in May 2002. Printed on environmentally friendly paper. Lady’s Bridge and Tosson Mill Route description The footbridge over the River Coquet after2 is called Lady’s Bridge. An earlier bridge may have been given this name because it enabled ladies 1 to cross the river without getting wet when visiting the woollen mill at From Cowhaugh car park cross Rothbury the footbridge and turn left. Follow Tosson. the River Coquet up-stream, for almost 3/4 mile (1km). RI VER C OQ 2 UET Pass through a wooden gate, Cemetery following a path through the Golf Course gorse and over a small bridge. Lady’s Whitton Continue ahead then bear left to Bridge cross another small footbridge, Whitton then diagonally right, across the Tower field towards the footbridge over Tosson Mill Sharps the River Coquet. Cross the bridge Folly and follow the track away from the river to a group of houses. The East Newtown last one is Tosson Mill. Farm

3 At the road junction turn left and bear left at the next one. The mill, the last building before you reach the first junction at Immediately after East Newtown 3, Farm turn right onto a footpath was built in the early 1800s. It used water power to produce Simonside signposted to Newtown Park. Whitton Hillhead Whittondean Plaids (chequered lengths of cloth) from local wool. The Ashton family Cross the burn and follow the low ran the business for more than a century, but the secret of the ridge, an old field boundary, to manufacture of these special plaids died early this century with the last the right. Keep the fence on your member of the family. left and go through the gate. Quarry Legend has it that this area used to be haunted by mischievous elves Head for the trees on the skyline. called ‘Duergar’. They are reputed to have enjoyed playing tricks on people and are supposed to have started the water wheel of the mill during the night. They also took particular delight in frightening 4 For the shorter walk turn Lordenshaws travellers near the Simonside Hills. Maybe this part of the walk should left through the gate, just past the Iron Age be avoided during the hours of darkness! trees. At the large shed go through Cup & Hillfort rings another gate and turn right onto a track around the farm. Follow the farm road, out of the farm Lordenshaws Iron Age Hillfort and past some woodland on the left. At the junction go straight © Crown copyright, Northumberland County Council LA 076775/97/13 The fort at Lordenshaw5 is one ahead. Continue at 7. of the most important archaeological sites in HILLFORT slightly to the left and keep Go left through the gate before through a kissing gate just before Northumberland National Park. HOUSE ENTRANCE For the longer walk go past Lordenshaws Iron Age Hillfort to the stone house. Follow the farm the road junction. Follow the path FOUNDATIONS HILLFORT There is open access to the ENTRANCE the old quarry and downhill to a your right. The path goes track ahead. Turn right at the downhill towards some houses, junction and rejoin the shorter hillfort and the National Park has PREHISTORIC gate into the forestry plantation. downhill crossing an old wall and and join an access road down to CARVED ROCKS provided information panels to When you reach the tarmac road goes through the bracken. walk. the bridge. turn left. explain the history and importance of the site. A leaflet is 6 In the valley bottom bear 7 Go past Sharp’s Folly on your 8 Just before the bridge into also available from the National 5 At Lordenshaws car park turn right past two ponds. Take the left and a cottage on your right. At Rothbury turn left and walk back Park Centre at Rothbury. (after RCHME) left. Follow the path which bends fork left towards the farm. the road turn left and then right to the car park. CAR PARK