Sharperton: Bastle, Village History and Coquet Valley

Sharperton can be understood through its location, history and specifically described routes. Sharperton Bastle and a medieval village provide historical reference points; at the same time, the village is situated on the River Coquet and in the Coquet Valley National Character Area. The Breamish & Coquet cycling route leads to Sharperton. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, these details provide points of reference for the village’s history, landscape and road orientation.

Location and road orientation

A minor road branches off the B6341 west of Rothbury and runs through Sharperton and Harbottle on to Alwinton. The turn-off is about four miles along the drive from Rothbury; this distance refers to the drive to the turn-off. The River Coquet and the Coquet Valley refer to different geographical features: the river and the landscape area in which Sharperton lies. Rothbury is the starting point for the distance, while the minor road then continues via Sharperton and Harbottle to Alwinton.

Bastle and medieval village

Sharperton Bastle appears to have been a fortified house dating from the late 16th or early 17th century; its remains are in poor condition. The older part measures 10.2 m × 6.5 m. Its clay-bonded rubble walls are 1 to 1.4 m thick. Clay-bonded rubble masonry refers to rubble stones laid with clay as a binding material.

A broken door lintel in the collapsed masonry of the bastle bears the inscription “G P E P 1615. Roger Potz”. Sharperton was also the site of a medieval village, described in a document written in 1632 as having two short rows. The year 1615 appears in the inscription, while 1632 dates the document about the village layout. The two dates therefore relate to different historical records: the door lintel and the written description of the village.

Cycling routes and right of way

The challenging Copper Snout Ride is 11 miles (17.7 km) long; its stated duration is 4 to 4.5 hours. Check the current access conditions before setting out. The Breamish & Coquet cycling route leads to Sharperton, runs entirely on roads, is 38 miles long and has 834 m of ascent.

The route details answer different planning questions: for Copper Snout, the level of difficulty and time required are specified; for Breamish & Coquet, the road route, total distance, ascent and Sharperton as the destination are highlighted. This gives you a time frame for one ride and information about the character of the route and destination for the other.

Another right-of-way reference is Byway Open to All Traffic No. 35. It begins 250 m north of Sharperton Edge Farm; an inspector confirmed the right of way on 11 September 2024. This identifies both a specific starting point and the date the right of way was confirmed.

Discover more places to visit: Duddo, Bardon Mill, Chatton, Wooler, Lowick, Felton, Kirknewton, Longwitton.

For the wider travel guide: Northumberland.