Rothbury Circular via Simonside

After leaving the car park we walked towards the main Rothbury Bridge. Just before reaching the bridge we turned sharp right to walk uphill along a lane before taking a footpath to our left which took us through fields into Whitton Farm.

Here we turned right along a minor road and after a short distance we followed a track, Hillhead Road, to our left, passing Sharpe's Folly on our right.

Sharpe's Folly was erected by Rev. DR Thomas Sharp who was the Rector of Rothbury 1720-1758, for relief of unemployed stonemasons and as an observatory. This is the oldest folly in the county and a listed building.

After nearly ½ mile we took a footpath to our left that took us across fields to Whitton Dean before climbing sharply uphill. To the east of Lordenshaw Fort and settlement we took a footpath to our right (059992) which took us to the south of the fort into a car park.

We walked through the car park, across a minor road, to join a footpath taking us towards The Beacon Cairn. We soon left the right of way to join a permissive path leading us to The Beacon Cairn, Dove Crag Cairn, Old Stell Crag and Simonside. From Dove Crag Cairn the footpath took us along a newly laid stone pathway to bypass the original permissive path which has become badly damaged. The climb to Simonside is well worth it with wonderful views of Rothbury, Cragside and the Cheviots.

Now there is a steep, rocky descent to the base of Simonside. Care must be taken here, especially when wet, because the path is rocky and steep. At the base of Simonside we walked straight on for a short while before taking a footpath to our right towards the forest. Before going into the forest we stopped for lunch in a clearing shielded from the wind - a wonderful suntrap.  

After lunch we continued due north through the forest. This path is mainly downhill and initially quite rocky so care has to be taken especially in the wet. On emerging from the forest there were wonderful views towards the Cheviots. The path then continued downhill, with the forest to our right, until reaching a track which took us through a farm to a minor road at Great Tosson.

We then turned left along a road, passing Tosson Lime Kiln, and soon after a T junction we took a footpath to our right down to a footbridge to cross the River Coquet. Here we turned right, following the river for a while, into Thropton. Crossing straight over the main road the path took us to the right of Snitter Mill where we turned right on a track then left on a minor road. After a short walk we turned right along a lane to pick up the footpath, walking in a north east direction.

We continued on this path until we turned right (041034) then left (045031). We then followed the path in a north east direction until reaching a track (055038). Here we turned right before turning right onto a footpath (before reaching Primrose Cottage) the path taking us into Rothbury.