Section
5
Rothbury
to Kirkwhelpington
(15 miles / 24 km)
The picturesque
and ancient village of Rothbury is set in the Coquet valley and surrounded
by hills. St. Oswald’s Way leaves the River Coquet here and heads
southwards again, this time over remote but appealing country. The route
enters Northumberland National Park and passes the remains of an Iron
Age hill fort and rock carvings at Lordenshaws.
The heather-clad moors of the Simonside Hills are crossed before reaching
Harwood Forest, a large plantation managed by the Forestry Commission.
The route then crosses attractive farmland to reach the settlement of Knowesgate
and the scenic small village of Kirkwhelpington.
