Rothbury: Trails, History and Music

Rothbury offers several starting points for a trip. Simonside can be reached on foot from Rothbury via Whitton and Hillhead Lane; the Church of All Saints is in the village. The Rothbury Traditional Music Festival is also based in Rothbury. The River Coquet provides another focal point for walks and trails.

Simonside and trails along the Coquet

The Simonside Hills lie in Northumberland National Park, on the northernmost edge of Harwood Forest. The summit reaches 430 m and offers views of the Cheviots to the north and the entire Northumberland coast. A visit therefore focuses on both a summit destination and far-reaching views across the landscape.

The footpath from Rothbury to Simonside runs via Whitton and Hillhead Lane; the route is 2.5 miles (4 km) long. If you are planning this route, check trail conditions before setting out, as they can change. This allows you to plan your walk around the specific route described.

The Rothbury Riverside Walk is a short, easy walk along the River Coquet. The section of St Oswald's Way between Warkworth and Rothbury has a different character: it follows the Coquet Valley through woodland, along riverside paths and across rolling farmland. The walks therefore offer clearly different experiences: a short riverside walk on the one hand, and a route through several types of landscape on the other.

Beggars Rigg car park lies west of Rothbury. It is a distinct landmark when exploring the village and its surroundings.

Church history and music

The Church of All Saints in Rothbury is a Grade II* listed building. As a parish church, it stands on an important site that existed before the Norman Conquest of England. The church was rebuilt in 1850 and features remnants of a 13th-century chancel. Several historical periods therefore come together here: the site's early significance, medieval chancel sections and the 19th-century rebuilding.

The Rothbury Traditional Music Festival is a community-based music festival in Rothbury in the Coquet Valley. Every year, it holds friendly competitions for young musicians, singers and poets in the Northumbrian dialect of northern England. Young participants and dialect give the festival a distinctive musical and linguistic focus. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the current event dates before making plans.

More interests in the region

Rothbury Golf Course is an 18-hole golf course in the Coquet Valley in Northumberland. It is a distinct sporting attraction for golf enthusiasts, and a different focus from the trails around Simonside or the history of the Church of All Saints.

When choosing a destination, the different interests are easy to distinguish: Simonside offers a summit and views, the Riverside Walk is a short riverside trail, the church is a point of local history, and the festival is all about music. If you are looking for a hotel in Rothbury, this comparison can help you choose the village that best matches the focus of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Fourstones, Powburn, Glanton, Ilderton, Wylam, Guyzance, Wooperton, West Woodburn.

For the broader travel overview: Northumberland.