Simonside and Dove Crag from Rothbury

The route

From Rothbury, a proper Northumberland market town on the River Coquet, the route heads south into Simonside Forest before breaking out onto open heather moorland. The Lordenshaw area nearby holds some of the best-preserved Iron Age rock art and hillfort remains in Northumberland, though this route stays focused on the higher ground rather than detouring to see it in detail.

Simonside and Dove Crag

Simonside's summit, at around 430m, is marked by dramatic sandstone crags rather than a simple grassy top - the kind of rock that looks far more serious from a distance than it turns out to be underfoot, though the final approach and the nearby Dove Crag both reward care, especially descending in the wet. The view from the top takes in the Cheviots to the north and, on a clear day, the Northumberland coast to the east.

Why it works

At 14.7km with 392m of ascent, this is a compact, high-value route - proper crag scenery and genuine remoteness without requiring a full day. The forest sections give shelter if the weather turns on the open moor, which is a useful option in a part of the country known for its exposure.

Getting there

The Simonside car park is free, which is unusual for this kind of landscape, and Rothbury itself has a good range of food options if you'd rather start and finish in the town. The forest plantation has been thinned and replanted in sections over recent years, so expect the odd diversion around felling work - these are usually well signed but worth checking locally if you're planning a first visit. Cragside, the National Trust's Victorian estate, is a short drive away and makes a good addition if you're making a full day of it in this part of Northumberland.