One of many trackways in the border hills
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.
Clennell Street is one of many Drove Roads in the Cheviot Hills which connected the market towns of Morpeth to Kelso across the border in Scotland. Clennell Street was used by cattle drovers and shepherds, pedlars and whisky smugglers. The remote tributary valleys of the Upper Coquet were used to distill illicit whisky during the 1800s.
Smugglers like Black Rory made their own whisky and sold it illegally at the remote farms up the valley. Excise-men would patrol the hills, stopping and searching carts and travellers for contraband liquor.
The ancient hillforts of Castle Hills and Camp Knowe look as if they stand guard over Alwinton and the entrance to Clennell Street.
Download the PDF guide to Alwinton and the River Alwin Walk
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