Discover Duddo: stone circle and historic buildings

Duddo brings together a prehistoric monument, historic buildings and distinctive landscape features. The Duddo Five Stones are a stone circle more than 4,000 years old; Duddo Tower is preserved as ruins and earthworks; the Church of All Saints represents ecclesiastical architecture; and Twizel Bridge is a medieval bridge over the River Till. If you are planning a trip to Duddo, you can make prehistory, architectural history and landscape different areas of focus. These places offer different historical and landscape perspectives on the destination.

Prehistoric stone circle and landscape

The Duddo Five Stones are the remains of a small stone circle dating from the Neolithic or Bronze Age. The monument is more than 4,000 years old, making it Duddo’s prehistoric highlight. It predates Twizel Bridge and the parish church, which dates from 1879, by a considerable period. This helps put the destination’s different historical layers into context: a prehistoric monument takes centre stage here, while the later buildings offer different points of interest through their architecture and history.

From the Duddo Five Stones, you can look south towards the Cheviot Hills and north towards the Lammermuir Hills. These two directions also give the archaeological site a clear geographical setting. For visitors, the stone circle thus connects two aspects: the monument’s distant past and views across the landscape in different directions.

The Duddo Five Stones can only be reached via a footpath of about 1 km through fields. Check the current access arrangements before your visit. If you plan to visit Twizel Bridge on foot, it is also advisable to check the access arrangements in advance.

Buildings from different periods

Duddo Tower stands on rocks immediately south of the village of Duddo. The tower survives as ruins and earthworks. Its location gives a precise point of reference to the village; the term “earthworks” adds a description of the terrain to that of the ruins. Unlike the Duddo Five Stones, the focus here is not on a prehistoric stone circle but on a different kind of historic structure.

The Church of All Saints is a Grade II listed building. It is designed in the Decorated style and is described as a former church and private residence. It dates from 1879, when it served as the parish church. F. R. Wilson of Alnwick is associated with the church. Its listing category, style and date offer different starting points if you are interested in the area’s history and architecture.

Twizel Bridge over the River Till

Twizel Bridge is a medieval single-span bridge dating from the early 16th century, crossing the River Till. “Single-span” describes a structure with one bridge span and identifies the bridge by its design. Despite some repairs, Twizel Bridge retains its medieval form, appearance and character. Compared with the Duddo Five Stones, which are more than 4,000 years old, it belongs to a much later period. The two places therefore offer different historical reference points to consider when planning a trip to Duddo.

Planning your trip to Duddo

If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Duddo, it helps to decide what matters most: are you mainly interested in the prehistoric site, the historic buildings or the landscape? Check specific details with each hotel and choose according to your personal requirements.

Discover more destinations: Berwick Hill, Guyzance, Sharperton, Glanton, Felton, Wooler, Kirkwhelpington, Morpeth

For the regional travel overview: Northumberland.