Simonside and Dove Crag from Rothbury
Sandstone crags with a proper sense of drama, Iron Age rock art on the approach, and views stretching from the Cheviots to the Northumberland coast for under 400m of climbing.
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A 14.7km loop from Rothbury over the sandstone crags of Simonside and Dove Crag, with 392m of climbing through forest and heather moorland.
Sandstone crags with a proper sense of drama, Iron Age rock art on the approach, and views stretching from the Cheviots to the Northumberland coast for under 400m of climbing.
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.
Sandstone crags near the summit and around Dove Crag are slippery when wet - take care on the final approach and especially descending. Forest tracks can be muddy after rain. Grouse shooting on parts of the moor August to December.
Safety on this route
- No signal? Text 999 — pre-register first: text register to 999
- Tell someone your route and expected return time before you head out
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
Run by us
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Runner reports
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