The 12 best hikes in Northumberland National Park

The 12 best hikes in Northumberland National Park

The best hikes in Northumberland National Park reveal an underestimated but extremely attractive expanse of the English landscape

In the middle of the old gentle hills between the Scottish border and England's industrial northeast, Northumberland National Park is located. With just over 2,000 inhabitants, England's northernmost national park is also the least visited in the UK and the most thinned in England and Wales.

This rugged, remote landscape extends over an area of ​​1,049 km2 and is primarily known for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hadrianwall, which runs from coast to coast through England.

But Northumberland has more to offer than old Milecastles and crumbling fortresses. This timeless landscape is the home of the gently curved Cheviot Hills on the Anglo-Scottish border; the most photographed tree of Great Britain; and Kelder Forest, England's largest artificial forest area.

In terms of the wildlife, the Park deer, wild goats, squirrels, moorwing and the rare Birkhuhn can be seen.

In addition, it was declared Dark Sky Park in 2013, which means that it is protected against artificial light pollution to promote astronomy in the region. In fact, it is the largest area with protected night sky in Europe, which makes it one of the best places in the UK to observe stars.

Over 1,100 km of hiking trails make the park one of the most popular hiking destinations in England. Here we share the best hikes in Northumberland National Park - 12 unique opportunities to explore England's remote north.

Best hikes in Northumberland National Park

We selected the best hikes in the Northumberland National Park for each skill, from gentle, hilly day trips to demanding multi-day hikes.

Further information on activities and accommodations in the Northumberland National Park can be found on the website of the national park.

1. Platan gap

distance: 4km (2.5mi) duration: 1-2 hourly difficulty: light

alt = “Sycamore Gap is one of the best hikes in Northumberland National Park”> Joe Rey Photography/Shutterstock The English tree of the year 2016

In the fountain of a striking sink along the Hadrian’s Wall Path is the English tree of the year 2016 (yes, there is a tree of the year). You may recognize it from the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves as the Platane, to which the young Wulf climbs to avoid Guy of Gisborne and his men.

This pleasant walk is the perfect introduction to Northumberland National Park and its most famous landmark, the Hadrianwall.

The short but sweet journey has the additional advantage that it begins and ends in the Twice Brewed Inn, a pub that is known for its self-brewed ales and hearty Northumberland sausages.

2. Greenlee-See

distance: 5.5km (3.6mi) Duration: 1-2 hourly difficulty: light

Alt = “Greenlee Lough”> Natural England/CC 2.0 The largest natural lake in Northumberland

Greenlee Lough is the largest natural lake in Northumberland and the surrounding wetlands form an idyllic environment, especially in spring when the wool grass and the yellow swords wake up.

The footpath is also a great place for bird watching. The flat Greenlee is full of perch, which makes it a simple hunting area for fish eagles. The birds of prey often stay on their annual train south in late summer and early autumn for a few weeks.

3. Otterburn routes

Distance: 13.5 km (8.5 miles) Duration: 4-5 hourly difficulty: Medium

alt = "Otterburn Ranges in the Northumberland National Park"> PJ_Fotography/Shutterstock The cross-border Otterburn Ranges

Now we're talking. This cross -border hike takes you to the abandoned Otterburn Ranges. On the summit of the Brownhart Law, there is an excellent panoramic view before the path falls and leads to Scotland.

The highlight of the hike is the summit of the Blackhall Hill, which offers the best view of the neighboring hills and valleys, continue via the Cheviot Hills and north to Scotland.

The British military has been using the range for training exercises for over 100 years. When red flags blow, certain areas are blocked. Always stay on the designated footpaths.

4. Alwinton and Harbottle

Distance: 7.5 km (4.5 miles) Duration: 2-3 hourly difficulty: Light to moderate

alt = "Harbottle Castle"> Dave Head/Shutterstock The remains of Harbottle Castle

The highlights of this winding route include two quiet villages associated with footpaths, crossing the untouched meadows, and a quiet country road that leads past the ruins of Harbottle Castle. Once conquered by Robert the Bruce, Harbottle Castle made of sandstone from the 12th century was built with a view of the Coquet River and the Coquet Gorge.

The route leads past the Drake Stone (also known as Dragon Stone or Draak’s Stone), an oversized boulder that is assumed that it was used by druids.

5. Upper Coquetdale

distance: 14km (9mi) Duration: 3-4 hourly difficulty: Moderate

alt = “Upper Coquetdale is one of the best hikes in Northumberland National Park”> Dave Head/Shutterstock This hike quickly leaves civilization behind

The green combing lines and steep valleys from Upper Coquetdale and the Cheviot Hills are a wonderful step upwards from the above -mentioned village route. This wild hike quickly leaves civilization behind it and gains something on the ground while the path north winds towards the Scottish border.

The highlight of the hike is located near Saughy Hill at 465 m, from where the Scottish border can be seen on the northern horizon. As described above, the hike begins in the village of Alwinton, where Walter Scott wrote his famous novel Rob Roy and was inspired by the surrounding landscape.

6. Simonside hill

Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles) Duration: 3-4 hourly difficulty: Medium

alt = "Simonside Hills in the Northumberland National Park"> Dave Head/Shutterstock The heath landscape of Simonside

cliffs, needle forests, heathemoor and fairies determine this hike to the Simonside summit, where you can expect a 360 ° view of the Cheviot Hills and the North Sea coast. On the way, various old piles of stone and striking rocks mark the numerous highlights of the hilly comb.

The Simonside Hills are also the subject of several folkloricisms of "fairies" and "little people", the most famous of the Duergar. According to Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, the Duergar were “dwarfs who live in rocks and hills; known for their strength, subtlety, magical powers and skills in metallurgy. 'Keep your eyes open.

7. Hareshaw-Linn waterfall

distance: 5km (3MI) duration: 1-2 hourly difficulty: light

alt = “Hareshaw Linn is one of the best hikes in Northumberland National Park”> Coxy58/Shutterstock Hareshaw Linn near Bellingham

waterfalls keep inspiring and Hareshaw Linn is the most beautiful in the region. The short hike begins in Bellingham, where an ironworks once stood.

The path follows the Hareshaw Burn (river), which meanders through a forested valley. No less than six bridges cross the Hareshaw Burn in various places before the route reaches the 10 m high Hareshaw Linn.

Depending on the season (and time of day), squirrels, woodpeckers, grass mosquitoes, fly snapper, badgers and bats can be seen in the forest.

8. Hochschultal

distance: 8km (5MI) Duration: 2-3 hourly difficulty: Moderate

Alt = “College Valley is one of the best hikes in Northumberland National Park”> Dave Head/Shutterstock crossing the College Burn

The wide college Valley is a place as quiet as you can only imagine. The flat path leads along the College Burn to the south before crossing the burn and returning to the north on the adjacent side.

The river meanders through the wide untouched valley with merging moor hills, which are omnipresent on the horizon. The nearby local forests offer deer, rabbits and wild Cheviot goats protection, which can often be seen on the hills near the Hethpool mill.

9. Elsdon Burn

distance: 4km (2.5mi) duration: 1-2 hourly difficulty: light

Alt = "View from the bird's eye view of the village of Elsdürn"> Gary Alford/Shutterstock View from the bird's eye view of the village of Elsdürn

Another wonderful river hike, the Elsdon Burn Route, is a popular option for families. Sights include the church from the 12th century in Elsdurn, which is supposed to housing the dead of the Battle of Otterburn from 1388, the relics of a moth-and-bailey castle, a medieval Pele tower (one of several that were built along the Scottish border). , a pub and an impromptu tea room (it actually means).

10. Greenhay and Thorneyburn

Distance: 4 km (2.5 miles) Duration: 1-2 hourly difficulty: easy to medium-heavy

Alt = “Black Middens Hoben near Greenhayhh is one of the best hikes in Northumberland National Park”> Jim McWilliam/CC 2.0 Black Middens Hobn near Greenhay

The Greenhayh and Thorneyburn Loop Trail offers some wonderful views of the Tarset Valley. On the way there are several “hobbyists”, fortified farmhouses that were built in the 16th and 17th centuries to ward off the raids along the Anglo-Scottish border.

In late spring and summer, the hay meadows of the Boughthill Farm are in full bloom with a number of wildflowers such as daisies, orchids, butterflowers, yellow rattles snake, robin and mourning thistle, all of which are exhibited.

11. Path of the Hadrian wall

distance: 35km (22mi) Duration: 2 Tage swimming: Medium -heavy

Alt = “Hadrian’s Wall Path and the best hikes in the Northumberland National Park lead the picture”> Dave Head/Shutterstock The Hadrian’s Wall Path is one of the most popular hiking trails from the coast to coast

The entire 135 km (84 miles) of Hadrian’s Wall Path follow the defense systems of the Roman province of Britannia, which formed the northernmost border of the Roman Empire. The building began 122 AD under Emperor Hadrian to keep the "barbarians" in north.

Today the well -marked hiking trail is one of the most popular coastal routes in the UK. The 35 km long section, which crosses the Northumberland National Park, could theoretically be covered in one day. However, it is much more pleasant to distribute the course over at least two days.

The path leads through Sycamore Gap and a considerable part of the Northumberland Pennine Way.

12. Pennine-Weg

distance: 102km (64mi) Duration: 4 Tage swimming: difficult

Alt = “The Pennine Way follows part of the Hadrian’s Wall Path”> Dave Head/Shutterstock The Pennine Way follows part of the Hadrian’s Wall Path

Great Britain's oldest national hiking trail was opened in 1965 and crosses some of the most beautiful highland landscapes in England. It is far from the most famous and one of the most popular long -distance hiking trails.

The Pennine Way begins in the Peak District and runs 431 km (268 miles) north, all the way across the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District to the village of Kirk Yetholm, right behind the Scottish border.

The last section leads through the Northumberland National Park and includes many of the above hikes, including a significant section of the Hadrian Wall Path. It shows the best of the national park from the ancient sites in the south to the Cheviot Hills in the north and everything in between.

alt = “The 12 best hikes in the Northumberland National Park Pinterest Pin”>

main picture: Dave Head/Shutterstock

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