Rothbury to Thropton

The Location

A 3 mile walk along the river Coquet from Rothbury to Thropton and back.

What's there

The walk starts in Rothbury, which is a small town with quite a few pubs, cafes and shops. For some way out of town the walk is along a made up path that is suitable for wheelchairs. After a while, the path is not disabled friendly, details below. Thropton has a pub, and poo bins are available on route

How to get there

Postcode for Satnav - NE65 7SA. This is the post code for Bridge Street in Rothbury. The bridge is at the end of this street and the car park is over the bridge on the right.
You will most likely come into Rothbury from the east, either on the B6344, signposted from Morpeth, or the B6341, signposted from Alnwick. These roads join on the outskirts of the town. As you reach the town centre you will see a road on the left, opposite Barclay's Bank. Take this road, cross over the bridge then turn right. You will see a large car park on the right by the river.

This car park can be full in the summer. If so, go back over the bridge and turn left, follow the road out of town, and after maybe 300 yards you will see another car park on the left. This one does not get so busy as it is out of town, but is just on the walking route.

The Walk

Click here to see a detailed routemap of the walk. It will open in a new tab.
From the main car park, cross the river by the foot bridge and head up river on the pathway. This path extends for about 3/4 of a mile then goes up a hill, while the river goes off on a loop on your left. Near the top of the hill you will see a small gate on the left, with a pathway heading down to the river over a meadow. If you miss this rough path, the made up path continues until it meets a track, where you can turn left down the track to the footbridge. At this point the route becomes too rough for wheelchairs.
Cross the river on the footbridge, then over the bridge, take the left hand path which follows the river, and keep following this path, on the South side of the river, all the way to Thropton.

You approach Thropton by another footbridge over the river, which you will clearly see over the fields. Cross this bridge then turn left, follow the path for a short way past a small pond, then turn right into the village. Turn right again at the village road, and walk through the village, maybe stopping for refreshment at the Three Wheat Heads. At the bottom of the hill you will see a road bridge over the Wreigh burn. Take the roadway / path on the right just before this bridge and follow the path back round to the foot bridge over the Coquet.
Now retrace your steps back to your car.