Walk 5...

Upper Coquetdale. 17km (11 miles); 470m (1550 feet) of ascent; 6.5 hours duration. Meet at Rothbury Car Park or at the start of the walk.

This walk offers stunning views into Scotland as well as across the Cheviots as we descend from the Border Ridge down an old 'drover trail' used for bringing sheep from Scotland to markets in Newcastle and Hexham. To get to the beginning of this walk we have to drive deep into the Coquet Valley with many points of interest and wonderful views. Along the way we will have negotiate our passage with sheep and cows. Similarly for the return journey. If we are lucky we will see herons and dippers as we follow the river in each direction. The summit of this walk is Windy Gyle (619m/2043 feet) from where, in fine weather, we can identify the other major hills in the Cheviots range. At the Border Ridge is a cairn, originally Bronze Age, but named after an English lord shot dead on a 'truce day' at the height of the lawless Border Reiver times in the late 16th century. At the end of our walk we will take tea and homemade cake at the Barrowburn Tea Room (included in the price for the walk).