Near me

A village surrounded by beautiful rolling hills.

Approximately ten miles to the northwest of Rothbury, at the point where the River Alwin joins the River Coquet lies the village of Alwinton.  Alwinton, the last village in Upper Coquetdale, is surrounded by rolling hills. It is a great starting point for walks on the Border Ridge.

It is a small but vibrant community and at the heart is its pub; the aptly named Rose and Thistle. The pub brings together the national emblems from both sides of the Border. Previously known at Allenton, there are also some fantastic horse riding routes in the Coquet Valley around Alwinton, which are perfect for mountain bikers too.

Alwinton is also the starting point for a number of sporting events during the year including the Alwinton Round and the Cheviot Challenge. Both are organised as fundraising events for the local Mountain Rescue Teams.

Alwinton Car Park is a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site. It’s uniquely dark skies mean it’s the perfect place to indulge in some stargazing.

History of Alwinton

The nearby church of St Michael and All Angels was built in the late 11th or 12th century.

In medieval times, Alwinton was known as the leading settlement of “the 10 towns of Alwinton”. Most people earned their living from grazing livestock.

When the Selby family had to sell their estates in 1914, the Army bought what has since become the Otterburn Ranges.

A landscape view of Alwinton in Coquetdale with the Cheviot Hills visible in the background

Biddlestone Chapel

Now owned by the Historic Chapels Trust, Biddlestone Chapel is all that remains of the home of the Catholic Selby family. Biddlestone Hall was built in the 1600s adjacent to the medieval tower house.

During the 1950s Biddlestone Hall was demolished so all that remains is the Chapel. There are also a series of earthworks preserved in the parkland which are thought to be the remains of the medieval village of Biddlestone.

A view of Biddlestone Chapel in Coquetdale.

Getting there

From Elsdon

Leave the B6341 at the small hamlet of Swindon, signed Alwinton to the left. Follow the road through Harbottle and continue to Alwinton, the last hamlet in Upper Coquetdale. Park in the National Park car park at Alwinton, which is through the village on your right.

From Rothbury

Leave the B6341 at the small hamlet of Flotterton, signed Alwinton to the right. Follow the road through Harbottle and continue to Alwinton, the last hamlet in Upper Coquetdale. Park in the National Park car park at Alwinton, which is through the village on your right.

///clearcut.textiles.carting