All content & photography copyright 2003 property of Heritage Trails
Designed and produced in Northumberland 01669 621272
Photography by Bill A Peronneau
This project is supported by
www.wild-redesdale.co.uk
www.northumberland-national-park.org.uk
Refreshments and toilets available
The Border Reiver, Otterburn 01830 520682.
Refreshments and toilets available
Impromptu Café, Elsdon, 01830 520389.
Refreshments and toilets available
Otterburn Mill TIC – 01830 520093
Refreshments and toilets available
Bellingham TIC – 01434 220616
TOURIST INFORMATION
Make no unnecessary noise.
Take special care on country roads.
Protect wildlife, plants and trees.
Help keep all water clean.
Take your litter home.
Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone.
Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls.
Keep to public paths across farmland.
Keep your dogs under close control.
Fasten all gates.
Guard against all risk of fire.
Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work.
Countryside Code.
When exploring Redesdale, please observe the
THE COUNTRYSIDE CODE
HISTORY OF REDESDALE
Redesdale is the valley of the river Rede, which stretches
from its source on open moorland close to the Border
with Scotland at Carter Bar down to the junction of the
Rede with the North Tyne near to the small town of
Bellingham. This section of the leaflet will introduce you
to the history of the valley and its people.
ANCIENT REDESDALE
Human beings probably came to the valley about 9000
years ago. These first inhabitants were hunters and
gatherers who practised a mobile lifestyle moving around
the landscape to exploit seasonally available food
resources. Over the next two thousand years, people
began to transform the way that they lived by tending
and adapting the plant and animal species that they
found they needed most. These were the first farmers.
Although rearing livestock was a particularly important
activity, these farmers also grew cereals and continued
some of their former hunting and gathering methods of
finding food.
By the beginning of the Bronze Age, around 4000 years
ago, people were living in permanent houses all the year
round and practising a mixed-farming regime. This way
of living continued into the Iron Age, although farming
production became more specialised and warfare possibly
more common. It is believed that Redesdale was
primarily a cattle rearing area. During this time hillforts
and stockaded farm settlements came to dominate the
landscape.
THE ROMAN PERIOD
The arrival of the Romans in northern England in 79-80
AD heralded a new phase of political control and
settlement organisation in what was to become a
militarised frontier zone. Redesdale lies to the north of
Hadrian’s Wall, so that after 158 AD when the Romans
abandoned the Antonine Wall and their attempt to
govern the area we know as southern Scotland, the valley
Kielder Water.
Ordnance Survey Explorer OL 42
MAP
Geoffrey N Wright David and Charles 1989
The Northumbrian Uplands
Roger J A Wilson Constable 2002
A Guide to the Roman Remains in Britain
Tony Hopkins Fraser Pevensey Press 2002
Northumberland the official National Park Guide
George Macdonald Fraser Harper Collins 1995
The Steel Bonnets
The Redesdale Society 1999
A Visitor’s Guide to Redesdale
FURTHER READING
on 0191 239 4201.
The Raw Bastle – telephone the Army Liaison Office
• telephoning 01830 520342.
• a key can be obtained from the Churchwarden by
• Horsley Church – permission to enter the church and treasures
•
• information about opening times.
• Archaeological Centre on 01830 520801 for Northumberland’s
• Brigantium and Bremenium – telephone Brigantium
•
• Petrol Station and café during opening hours. Open your eyes to
• a key can be obtained from the nearby Border Park
• Byrness Church – permission to enter the church and
•
Trust on 0191 284 6884 for access and further information.
Whitelee Moor – telephone Northumberland Wildlife
CONTACTS
lay outside the frontier of the Roman Empire. The against the Scots (and sometimes one’s neighbours!)
Romans did not desert Redesdale. While permanent forts became a way of life for many of the people in
were built at Bremenium (near Rochester) and at Redesdale. Families such as the Halls, Dunnes,
Risingham (near West Woodburn), the evidence that Milburns, Potts, Reeds, Hedleys and Storeys became
there are more temporary marching camps in the valley notorious for their thieving and violence. Although the
than anywhere else in Western Europe shows Redesdale authorities in both Scotland and England had created
was extensively used by the Roman Military in the second, special officers and laws for the Border areas, it was
third and fourth centuries AD. only the Union of the Crowns that ended the reivers’
activities and ushered in a more peaceful way of life in
MEDIEVAL REDESDALE Redesdale.
Roman government in Britain collapsed around 400 AD
and the area to the north of Hadrian’s Wall probably
passed back into a form of tribal government. Eventually
MORE RECENT TIMES
During the seventeenth and early eighteenth century,
the area became part of the Kingdom of Northumbria.
Little is known about this period, but when the Normans Redesdale slowly became a more peaceful and
came to Redesdale in the late eleventh century, they prosperous area. All the land not occupied at the end
found the valley subject to raiding by the Scots. As a of the sixteenth century was added to existing farms or
result of these attacks, Redesdale was given the special new ones were created. This process resulted in many
status of a Liberty in which the Lord was given powers large farms which were used for rearing, mostly,
and responsibilities to enable him to defend the area Cheviot sheep. The wool and livestock was sold to
against raiders from the north. Within the Liberty, the clothe and feed the rapidly expanding urban
Lords of Redesdale strengthened the valley’s defences by population created by the Industrial Revolution and the
building castles first at Elsdon and, later, a replacement at farms prospered. At the same time, in Otterburn, a
nearby Harbottle. These were much needed in the later woollen mill was opened and attempts were made
thirteenth century when serious warfare broke out elsewhere to exploit minerals such as iron and coal
between Scotland and England. For over three hundred which were found in the valley. Sadly, the industrial
years Redesdale became a centre of conflict between the efforts were never wholly successful, while, at the end
two kingdoms which was only ended when King James VI of the nineteenth century, sheep farming was adversely
of Scotland became ruler of both countries on the death
affected by imports from Australia and New Zealand.
of Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1603.
New employment has been created in the twentieth
century by the construction of the reservoir at
THE REIVERS
Catcleugh, the planting of trees creating commercial
Throughout the Anglo-Scottish wars, people on both
sides of the Border suffered greatly. Warfare forced many forests on many of the sheep farms and the opening of
people to leave parts of Redesdale, while those who the vast Otterburn Training Area for the Army. This
remained had to take special care to protect themselves area of Northumberland was recognised as one of the
from raids from Scotland, especially during the sixteenth finest landscapes in England and was designated a
century. The local people banded together in family National Park in 1956. Today, people are still
groups and many of the wealthier built fortified houses, discovering the beautiful scenery and the interesting
called bastles, in which they and their relatives could history of Redesdale and the National Park, making the
defend themselves from attack. Reiving, or raiding, area a popular choice for visitors and holiday makers.
 All content & photography copyright 2003 property of Heritage Trails Kielder Water.
Designed and produced in Northumberland 01669 621272 Ordnance Survey Explorer OL 42
Photography by Bill A Peronneau
MAP

Geoffrey N Wright David and Charles 1989

This project is supported by The Northumbrian Uplands
Roger J A Wilson Constable 2002
www.wild-redesdale.co.uk A Guide to the Roman Remains in Britain
www.northumberland-national-park.org.uk Tony Hopkins Fraser Pevensey Press 2002
Refreshments and toilets available Northumberland the official National Park Guide
The Border Reiver, Otterburn 01830 520682.
George Macdonald Fraser Harper Collins 1995
Refreshments and toilets available The Steel Bonnets
Impromptu Café, Elsdon, 01830 520389.
The Redesdale Society 1999
Refreshments and toilets available
Otterburn Mill TIC – 01830 520093 A Visitor’s Guide to Redesdale

Refreshments and toilets available FURTHER READING

Bellingham TIC – 01434 220616
TOURIST INFORMATION
on 0191 239 4201.
The Raw Bastle – telephone the Army Liaison Office
Make no unnecessary noise. • telephoning 01830 520342.
Take special care on country roads. • a key can be obtained from the Churchwarden by
Protect wildlife, plants and trees.
Help keep all water clean.
•
•
Horsley Church – permission to enter the church and treasures
Take your litter home. • information about opening times.
Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone.
Use gates and stiles to cross fences, hedges and walls.
•
•
Archaeological Centre on 01830 520801 for
Brigantium and Bremenium – telephone Brigantium
Northumberland’s
Keep to public paths across farmland. •
Keep your dogs under close control.
Fasten all gates.
•
•
Petrol Station and café during opening hours.
a key can be obtained from the nearby Border Park
Open your eyes to
Guard against all risk of fire. • Byrness Church – permission to enter the church and
Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work. •
Trust on 0191 284 6884 for access and further information.
Countryside Code.
Whitelee Moor – telephone Northumberland Wildlife
When exploring Redesdale, please observe the
THE COUNTRYSIDE CODE CONTACTS

HISTORY OF REDESDALE
Redesdale is the valley of the river Rede, which stretches
from its source on open moorland close to the Border
with Scotland at Carter Bar down to the junction of the
Rede with the North Tyne near to the small town of
Bellingham. This section of the leaflet will introduce you
to the history of the valley and its people.
ANCIENT REDESDALE
Human beings probably came to the valley about 9000
years ago. These first inhabitants were hunters and
gatherers who practised a mobile lifestyle moving around
the landscape to exploit seasonally available food
resources. Over the next two thousand years, people
began to transform the way that they lived by tending
and adapting the plant and animal species that they
found they needed most. These were the first farmers.
Although rearing livestock was a particularly important
activity, these farmers also grew cereals and continued
some of their former hunting and gathering methods of
finding food.
By the beginning of the Bronze Age, around 4000 years
ago, people were living in permanent houses all the year
round and practising a mixed-farming regime. This way
of living continued into the Iron Age, although farming
production became more specialised and warfare possibly
more common. It is believed that Redesdale was
primarily a cattle rearing area. During this time hillforts
and stockaded farm settlements came to dominate the
landscape.
THE ROMAN PERIOD
The arrival of the Romans in northern England in 79-80
AD heralded a new phase of political control and
settlement organisation in what was to become a
militarised frontier zone. Redesdale lies to the north of
Hadrian’s Wall, so that after 158 AD when the Romans
abandoned the Antonine Wall and their attempt to
govern the area we know as southern Scotland, the valley
lay outside the frontier of the Roman Empire. The
Romans did not desert Redesdale. While permanent forts
were built at Bremenium (near Rochester) and at
Risingham (near West Woodburn), the evidence that
there are more temporary marching camps in the valley
than anywhere else in Western Europe shows Redesdale
was extensively used by the Roman Military in the second,
third and fourth centuries AD.
MEDIEVAL REDESDALE
Roman government in Britain collapsed around 400 AD
and the area to the north of Hadrian’s Wall probably
passed back into a form of tribal government. Eventually
the area became part of the Kingdom of Northumbria.
Little is known about this period, but when the Normans
came to Redesdale in the late eleventh century, they
found the valley subject to raiding by the Scots. As a
result of these attacks, Redesdale was given the special
status of a Liberty in which the Lord was given powers
and responsibilities to enable him to defend the area
against raiders from the north. Within the Liberty, the
Lords of Redesdale strengthened the valley’s defences by
building castles first at Elsdon and, later, a replacement at
nearby Harbottle. These were much needed in the later
thirteenth century when serious warfare broke out
between Scotland and England. For over three hundred
years Redesdale became a centre of conflict between the
two kingdoms which was only ended when King James VI
of Scotland became ruler of both countries on the death
of Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1603.
THE REIVERS
Throughout the Anglo-Scottish wars, people on both
sides of the Border suffered greatly. Warfare forced many
people to leave parts of Redesdale, while those who
remained had to take special care to protect themselves
from raids from Scotland, especially during the sixteenth
century. The local people banded together in family
groups and many of the wealthier built fortified houses,
called bastles, in which they and their relatives could
defend themselves from attack. Reiving, or raiding,
against the Scots (and sometimes one’s neighbours!)
became a way of life for many of the people in
Redesdale. Families such as the Halls, Dunnes,
Milburns, Potts, Reeds, Hedleys and Storeys became
notorious for their thieving and violence. Although the
authorities in both Scotland and England had created
special officers and laws for the Border areas, it was
only the Union of the Crowns that ended the reivers’
activities and ushered in a more peaceful way of life in
Redesdale.
MORE RECENT TIMES
During the seventeenth and early eighteenth century,
Redesdale slowly became a more peaceful and
prosperous area. All the land not occupied at the end
of the sixteenth century was added to existing farms or
new ones were created. This process resulted in many
large farms which were used for rearing, mostly,
Cheviot sheep. The wool and livestock was sold to
clothe and feed the rapidly expanding urban
population created by the Industrial Revolution and the
farms prospered. At the same time, in Otterburn, a
woollen mill was opened and attempts were made
elsewhere to exploit minerals such as iron and coal
which were found in the valley. Sadly, the industrial
efforts were never wholly successful, while, at the end
of the nineteenth century, sheep farming was adversely
affected by imports from Australia and New Zealand.
New employment has been created in the twentieth
century by the construction of the reservoir at
Catcleugh, the planting of trees creating commercial
forests on many of the sheep farms and the opening of
the vast Otterburn Training Area for the Army. This
area of Northumberland was recognised as one of the
finest landscapes in England and was designated a
National Park in 1956. Today, people are still
discovering the beautiful scenery and the interesting
history of Redesdale and the National Park, making the
area a popular choice for visitors and holiday makers.
1 2
Carter Bar – is the point where
England and Scotland meet at the
head of Redesdale. At 418 metres
above sea level, it is the highest
point on any main road between the
two countries. Although a crossing
point for many centuries, the Carter
Bar first appears in written records in
1375. Later, in the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries, it was the start
of a Turnpike road to Elsdon.
7 Scots invaded northern England. On
Horsley Church. As at Byrness,
the people of Horsley and Rochester
had to travel a number of miles to
Elsdon, where the parish church of
the upper Rede valley was located.
In 1842, Lord Redesdale, the local
landowner, had a new church built
on land he donated in Horsley for
the use of local people. The church
was designed by the important
north eastern architects, John and
Benjamin Green and contains
memorials to members of the
famous Mitford family of which Lord
Redesdale was a member. For further
details, see the Contacts section of
this leaflet.
Whitelee Moor– is the last farm in
England and, in the past, has been
the site of an inn as well as the first
tollhouse on the toll road from the
Carter Bar to Elsdon. In 1999,
Northumberland Wildlife Trust
purchased the Whitelee Moor as it
contains a large and nationally
important upland bog habitat which
is home to a variety of rare and
beautiful wild plants. In 2001, the
1508 hectare farm became a
National Nature Reserve. For access
and further details, see the Contacts
section of this leaflet.
8 11
The Percy Cross. In 1388, the
the eastern side of the country the
army was commanded by the Earl of
Douglas, who carried out serious
raids against the cities of Durham
and Newcastle. Whilst returning to
Scotland with the plunder he had
taken, Douglas was attacked near
Otterburn by an English force led by
Harry "Hotspur" Percy, the son of the
Earl of Northumberland. The Percy
Cross marks the site of the Battle of
Otterburn in which Douglas was
killed, but where the English were
defeated and Hotspur and many
nobles were taken prisoner. The site
is signed from the A68, open at all
times and has interesting
information boards.
3 4
Catcleugh Reservoir. By the end
of the nineteenth century, a great
deal of the land at the head of the
Rede valley had become large sheep
farms, most of which were several
thousand hectares in size. As the
city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
expanded in the nineteenth century,
the area was surveyed to see if it
would be possible to construct a
reservoir to supply water to the
growing urban population. The
surveys were favourable and,
between 1894 and 1905, the
reservoir was constructed on land
bought from the Duke of
Northumberland. It is possible to
drive across the dam in order to see
views of the lake that is now such a
beautiful feature of the landscape.
Parking available in the layby past
the Reservoir, toilets including
disabled.
9 The Raw Bastle. The bastle at the
Otterburn Tower. Located in the
centre of the village, the Tower was
originally built before the battle of
Otterburn at the time of which it
was attacked by the Scots. The
Tower has been continuously
occupied ever since and in the
sixteenth century became the
property of the Halls, one of the
most famous reiving families in
Redesdale, one of whose members
“Mad Jack Hall”, a judge was
executed for his part in the 1715
Jacobite rebellion. The Halls ceased
to own the Tower in 1745 and later
owners converted it from a fortress
into a country house.
Byrness Church. At one time,
Elsdon church was the only one in
the upper Rede valley. To provide a
convenient place of worship for the
local farming population, the Church
of St Francis at Byrness was built
between 1793 and 1796. Later,
workers constructing the reservoir at
Catcleugh used the church. In
1903, they erected a special
memorial window to commemorate
their comrades killed while working
at Catcleugh. The church key is
available on request from the nearby
garage where refreshments and
toilet facilities are available for
customers.
10
Elsdon Church and Tower. Elsdon
is built around a large village green.
The church, parts of which date
from the twelfth century, has many
historic features. The north wall
stands on the site of the grave of
soldiers killed in the battle of
Otterburn, while inside there are
inscribed Roman stones from the
nearby forts and medieval grave
slabs. Refreshments available from
the Impromptu Café and Bird and
Bush Pub, toilets signed from the
Village Green
5 6
Brigantium - is an archaeological
reconstruction centre that allows
visitors to explore the history of
Northumberland from Stone Age to
Roman times. The site contains
reconstructions, with information
boards, of several archaeological
features recorded in the Rede valley
and neighbouring areas. The actual
sites are not normally accessible to
the public. There is a helpful leaflet,
a video display and an interpretation
room together with a café, shop and
toilets available on the site. For
further details, see the Contacts
section of this leaflet.
Raw farm near Billsmoor which is
located 3km from Elsdon on the
B6341 Rothbury road is a fine
example of the type of fortified
house built during the reiving times
in the sixteenth century. The thick,
strong walls and the roof originally
made of stone slabs, provided
protection for the inhabitants
against surprise attack. Later used
as a house, the bastle was the scene
of a famous murder in 1792. The
local people refused to live in the
bastle after the murder and it
became a farm building. It is shortly
to be restored and will be open to
visitors, for further details, see the
Contacts section of this leaflet.
Bremenium. For 250 years
Bremenium was the most northerly
occupied fort in the entire Roman
Empire. The fort guarded the area
to the north of Hadrian’s Wall.
Although the fort encloses the
hamlet of High Rochester, a path
way around the perimeter permits
visitors access to the main visible
features of the fort. For further
details, see the Contacts section of
this leaflet.
12
Winter’s Gibbet. Standing on a
hill within sight of the Raw, the
gibbet commemorates the murder
of Margaret Crozier in 1792.
William Winter, the thief who
murdered the old lady at the Raw,
was apprehended, tried and
executed for the crime. The judge
decreed that Winter’s body should
hang in chains from the gibbet in
sight of the place where the crime
was committed as a dreadful
warning to other would-be
criminals. The gibbet and the
wooden replica head suspended
from it have been maintained to the
present day as a constant reminder
that crime does not pay! From
Elsdon take the road at the far
corner of the village green signed
Morpeth and Newcastle (also a
brown information sign for Winter’s
Gibbet), climb steeply away from the
village for 3km.
1 2
Carter Bar – is the point where
England and Scotland meet at the
head of Redesdale. At 418 metres
above sea level, it is the highest
point on any main road between the
two countries. Although a crossing
point for many centuries, the Carter
Bar first appears in written records in
1375. Later, in the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries, it was the start
of a Turnpike road to Elsdon.
7 Scots invaded northern England. On
Horsley Church. As at Byrness,
the people of Horsley and Rochester
had to travel a number of miles to
Elsdon, where the parish church of
the upper Rede valley was located.
In 1842, Lord Redesdale, the local
landowner, had a new church built
on land he donated in Horsley for
the use of local people. The church
was designed by the important
north eastern architects, John and
Benjamin Green and contains
memorials to members of the
famous Mitford family of which Lord
Redesdale was a member. For further
details, see the Contacts section of
this leaflet.
Whitelee Moor– is the last farm in
England and, in the past, has been
the site of an inn as well as the first
tollhouse on the toll road from the
Carter Bar to Elsdon. In 1999,
Northumberland Wildlife Trust
purchased the Whitelee Moor as it
contains a large and nationally
important upland bog habitat which
is home to a variety of rare and
beautiful wild plants. In 2001, the
1508 hectare farm became a
National Nature Reserve. For access
and further details, see the Contacts
section of this leaflet.
8 11
The Percy Cross. In 1388, the
the eastern side of the country the
army was commanded by the Earl of
Douglas, who carried out serious
raids against the cities of Durham
and Newcastle. Whilst returning to
Scotland with the plunder he had
taken, Douglas was attacked near
Otterburn by an English force led by
Harry "Hotspur" Percy, the son of the
Earl of Northumberland. The Percy
Cross marks the site of the Battle of
Otterburn in which Douglas was
killed, but where the English were
defeated and Hotspur and many
nobles were taken prisoner. The site
is signed from the A68, open at all
times and has interesting
information boards.
3 4
Catcleugh Reservoir. By the end
of the nineteenth century, a great
deal of the land at the head of the
Rede valley had become large sheep
farms, most of which were several
thousand hectares in size. As the
city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
expanded in the nineteenth century,
the area was surveyed to see if it
would be possible to construct a
reservoir to supply water to the
growing urban population. The
surveys were favourable and,
between 1894 and 1905, the
reservoir was constructed on land
bought from the Duke of
Northumberland. It is possible to
drive across the dam in order to see
views of the lake that is now such a
beautiful feature of the landscape.
Parking available in the layby past
the Reservoir, toilets including
disabled.
9 The Raw Bastle. The bastle at the
Otterburn Tower. Located in the
centre of the village, the Tower was
originally built before the battle of
Otterburn at the time of which it
was attacked by the Scots. The
Tower has been continuously
occupied ever since and in the
sixteenth century became the
property of the Halls, one of the
most famous reiving families in
Redesdale, one of whose members
“Mad Jack Hall”, a judge was
executed for his part in the 1715
Jacobite rebellion. The Halls ceased
to own the Tower in 1745 and later
owners converted it from a fortress
into a country house.
Byrness Church. At one time,
Elsdon church was the only one in
the upper Rede valley. To provide a
convenient place of worship for the
local farming population, the Church
of St Francis at Byrness was built
between 1793 and 1796. Later,
workers constructing the reservoir at
Catcleugh used the church. In
1903, they erected a special
memorial window to commemorate
their comrades killed while working
at Catcleugh. The church key is
available on request from the nearby
garage where refreshments and
toilet facilities are available for
customers.
10
Elsdon Church and Tower. Elsdon
is built around a large village green.
The church, parts of which date
from the twelfth century, has many
historic features. The north wall
stands on the site of the grave of
soldiers killed in the battle of
Otterburn, while inside there are
inscribed Roman stones from the
nearby forts and medieval grave
slabs. Refreshments available from
the Impromptu Café and Bird and
Bush Pub, toilets signed from the
Village Green
5 6
Brigantium - is an archaeological
reconstruction centre that allows
visitors to explore the history of
Northumberland from Stone Age to
Roman times. The site contains
reconstructions, with information
boards, of several archaeological
features recorded in the Rede valley
and neighbouring areas. The actual
sites are not normally accessible to
the public. There is a helpful leaflet,
a video display and an interpretation
room together with a café, shop and
toilets available on the site. For
further details, see the Contacts
section of this leaflet.
Raw farm near Billsmoor which is
located 3km from Elsdon on the
B6341 Rothbury road is a fine
example of the type of fortified
house built during the reiving times
in the sixteenth century. The thick,
strong walls and the roof originally
made of stone slabs, provided
protection for the inhabitants
against surprise attack. Later used
as a house, the bastle was the scene
of a famous murder in 1792. The
local people refused to live in the
bastle after the murder and it
became a farm building. It is shortly
to be restored and will be open to
visitors, for further details, see the
Contacts section of this leaflet.
Bremenium. For 250 years
Bremenium was the most northerly
occupied fort in the entire Roman
Empire. The fort guarded the area
to the north of Hadrian’s Wall.
Although the fort encloses the
hamlet of High Rochester, a path
way around the perimeter permits
visitors access to the main visible
features of the fort. For further
details, see the Contacts section of
this leaflet.
12
Winter’s Gibbet. Standing on a
hill within sight of the Raw, the
gibbet commemorates the murder
of Margaret Crozier in 1792.
William Winter, the thief who
murdered the old lady at the Raw,
was apprehended, tried and
executed for the crime. The judge
decreed that Winter’s body should
hang in chains from the gibbet in
sight of the place where the crime
was committed as a dreadful
warning to other would-be
criminals. The gibbet and the
wooden replica head suspended
from it have been maintained to the
present day as a constant reminder
that crime does not pay! From
Elsdon take the road at the far
corner of the village green signed
Morpeth and Newcastle (also a
brown information sign for Winter’s
Gibbet), climb steeply away from the
village for 3km.