Rothbury River
A pleasant stroll alongside the River Coquet and into Rothbury village.
Suitable for a variety of users. Due to width/surface restrictions on some parts, the route is not suitable for pushchairs/wheelchairs, although the riverside can be accessed by these users from the village centre.
Be aware: parts of the route may flood when the river level is high.
Rothbury Riverside
Grade: Easy
Length: 0.6 miles (0.9km)
Points of Interest
River Coquet
The River Coquet is an exceptionally clean river, typical of the watercourses throughout the Cheviot Hills. Stretches of the river are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the quality of the river, the habitats and species.
The River Coquet is about 40 miles in length (64km), from its source in the hills to its mouth into North Sea at Amble.
The earliest reference to the Coquet is from the 7th Century, when it was known as Coccoveda, which translates to ‘Red River’ referring to the red stones that litter its bed.
The land on the other side of the river (now a golf course) was a steeplechase course for over two hundred years.The land alongside a river is known as the ‘haugh’ (from the old English ‘halh’) which means riverside meadow or flat area.
Rothbury
Rothbury has always been the ‘capital’ of Coquetdale.
An important settlement throughout its history, situated at a fording point of the River Coquet, with turnpike roads to Newcastle, Hexham, Morpeth and Alnwick. ‘Rothbury’ derives from Anglo Saxon times, (‘Routhebiria’ meaning Routha’s Town) mentioned as being around 1100AD.
It is a bustling market town, popular with visitors throughout the year, but is particularly busy during the summer.
Wildlife
The riverside is home to a variety of animals, birds and plant life. On your walk you may see rabbits, otters, chaffinches, blue tits and water-loving birds such as gulls, ducks, herons, dippers, swans, kingfishers.
Local facilities
Shops and services are available in Rothbury, including pubs and cafes, tourist information and accommodation.
The National Park’s award-winningVisitor Centre and Tourist Information Centre is located on the village green in Rothbury and houses a fascinating interactive display about the wildlife, history and culture of this landscape. Our information officers have a wealth of knowledge about the area, services available and events, and can also help to book accommodation.
Download the Rothbury River walk guide.
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