Walks

Five stunning walks in Coquetdale and the surrounding area brought to life by the voices of the people who lived and worked there. Hear their voices, standing in the places that they are talking about. These walks range between 3 – 6 miles and are suitable for people with a generally good level of fitness. There are some short steep ascents and you should wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the conditions.

This programme of walks is run in partnership with Northumberland National Park volunteer rangers and special thanks go to Brian Rogers, Susan Laverick and John Ainsley for their skills, experience and enthusiasm in making the walks such a great success.

The following links provide details of the Out of Town Museum ‘Walk In Their Shoes’ programme. You can download the routes and audio along with

local history and heritage information
accurate locations for playing the audio
written transcripts of the interviews
map references
terrain and weather advice

Please note that you should check weather forecasts and make sure you are dressed appropriately for the conditions. These leaflets are not a substitute for an OS map and a compass! Remember that a GPS or mobile phone aren’t enough as they can run out of power and there is little to no signal in these areas. Leave clear details of your intended route and estimated time of return. Know basic first aid and how to call for help in an emergency. The audio interviews have encouraged much comment and discussion and stimulated conversation with family and friends both during the walks and afterwards. Hearing the voices of local people in the places they are talking about makes for a rich and dramatic experience. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

Alnham

A short walk above the village of Alnham taking in four thousand years of human history close to the source of the River Aln.

Barrowburn

An exhilarating walk into the Cheviot Hills with fine views up the Usway Burn valley and over to Windy Gyle.

The dramatic landscape and history are brought to life by the voices of the people who lived and worked there.

Elsdon

A gentle walk through farmland and over moorland with fine views of Elsdon village and surrounding hills and featuring grizzly murder mysteries and plenty of local history.

Harbottle

An exhilarating ascent to the Drake Stone with fine views to the east, a visit to Alwinton Church and a gentle stroll back along the River Coquet to Harbottle.

Thropton

A short walk above the village of Thropton with splendid views over Simonside, the River Coquet and the Cheviot Hills.