Discover Hepple: Nature, Tours and History

Hepple is a small village with nature activities on the estate and a historic building. Hepple Tower, a tower house dating from the 14th century, stands at the eastern end of the village. Your stay therefore focuses on guided nature experiences, a longer moorland walk and the history of the tower. These differences can help you plan your trip around the themes that matter to you.

Nature Activities and Walks

The area around the Simonside footpath is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Conservation Area. In addition, “Walk on the Wild Side” is a nature-focused tour of the Wilding Project. This offers both a connection to the designated landscape and a tour centred on a specific nature theme. The event date may change, so check the dates before planning around it.

The Hepple Moor Walk focuses on a longer guided route: the professionally guided walk lasts around 4.5 to 5.5 hours and covers about six miles across the estate’s hills and moorland. It includes Tosson Hill. The approximate distance and stated duration give you a guide for planning your time. The route and schedule may change, so check both before making specific plans.

Land Rover safaris offer a different way to get around: guests can explore the estate without walking. If you would like to include this option in your stay, check availability in advance, as it may change. The main difference from the moorland walk is whether you prefer to focus on a guided route on foot or explore by Land Rover.

Gin Tour and Hepple Tower

The Hepple Gin Distillery Tour includes a visit to the Hepple Juniper nursery and samples of up to three Hepple Spirits products. The visit to the juniper nursery adds another specific element to the tour alongside the samples. As the inclusions may change, check the current itinerary and what is included in advance.

Despite its partial collapse, Hepple Tower retains architectural features that offer insights into its original form and use. The tower is also designated as a Scheduled Monument. For a cultural focus, the key points are its form as a 14th-century tower house, its surviving features and its monument designation. This makes the Tower distinct from the guided nature and product tours.

Choosing the Focus of Your Stay

The main factors to consider when choosing between activities are the theme and how you get around. The moorland walk combines an approximate distance with a stated duration; the Land Rover safari lets you explore the estate without walking. “Walk on the Wild Side” focuses on the Wilding Project, while the gin tour includes the Hepple Juniper nursery and samples of Hepple Spirits. Hepple Tower offers a separate cultural point of interest. If you want to plan around a particular tour date, check its itinerary and availability in advance.

Discover more destinations: Gilsland, Fourstones, Matfen, Berwick Hill, Alwinton, Callaly, Glanton, Elsdon

For the broader travel overview: Northumberland.