Our Alwinton and the River Alwin route is a favourite route with walkers, starting in Alwinton, that used to be one of many trackways in the border hills frequented in times past by cattle drovers, shepherds, pedlars and whiskey smugglers.
Download the PDF guide to Alwinton and the River Alwin Walk
Download RouteFrom the car park turn left along the road heading into Alwinton. At the T-junction cross the village green, and cross over the footbridge. Turn left onto a narrow tarmac road signed ‘Clennell Street/Border Ridge’.
Follow the road until the tarmac ends, then keep on the track as it heads uphill. Ignore the gate and stile to the right, continue on up the farm track.
Cross over the ladder stile and follow the track, skirting around the right of Castle Hills, an ancient Iron Age settlement.
As the main track (Clennell Street) winds round to the left near the top of the hill, take right at the junction to a wicket gate, approx 50 metres away. Go through the gate and bear left across the field to the next gate. Go through this gate and follow the well worn path to the right along the hillside.
Continue on this path passing a stone sheepfold down to your right. At a junction of many tracks, head downhill towards the forest corner.
On reaching the bottom of the hill, go through the field gate onto the pink gravel forest road and turn right. Keep following the road, crossing the River Alwin three times, until you reach a crossroads.
At the crossroads, follow the track round to the right passing through the field gate, keeping the dry stone wall to your left. Cross over the cattle grid and turn right over the footbridge.
Once over the footbridge turn left up the path. Go over the step stile then continue straight ahead to the stile at the opposite side of the field. Cross the stile and carry on along the edge of the field keeping the fence to your left.
Go over the ladder stile and turn left onto the farm track that you came up. Head back downhill to Alwinton and along the road back to the car park.
Starting Point: Alwinton National Park Car Park
2 Gallow Law, Alwinton, NE65 7BQ
Grid Ref: NT 919 063
W3W: imprinted.motion.spearing
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.
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.
