This lovely walk takes you up to the ancient Drake Stone, a mythical place from where there are stunning views over the surrounding countryside and over to the ruins of Harbottle Castle.
Why not finish your walk at the cozy Star Inn pub; perfect for both food and drink.
Download the PDF guide to The Drake Stone and Harbottle Walk
Download RouteLeave the Forestry EnglandCar Park and follow the forest track signed ‘Drake Stone’, uphill through the wood. Go through the gate and turn right. Follow the path uphill kepping the fence on your right.
Pass through the next gate and continue uphill along the sandy footpath, making for the cairn ahead on the left.
The path splits just after the cairn. Take the left fork which leads up to the Drake Stone, a huge Fell Sandstone boulder, which local legend suggests has healing powers. Once you have finished exploring the Drake Stone continue on and follow the path down to Harbottle Lake.
Cross the stile and continue on the path along the edge of the lake.
Please note: The bog surrounding the lake is dangerous with very deep water underneath it, so please keep to the footpath.
At the fence turn right, heading uphill towards the trees, keeping the fence on your left. Go into the woodland and keep following the footpath straight ahead, until you come out of the wood at a gate.
Go through the gate, and turn right following the track downhill to the road.
You can make a shorter walk by turning right and heading back towards Harbottle. The Forestry England Car Park is on the right. This walk is 3 miles (4.8km)
Turn left onto the road, walking towards Alwinton. Cross the metal road bridge over the River Coquet.
Take the minor road on the right, signed Park House / Harbottle. Go past Low Alwinton Lime Kiln on your left and continue uphill along the road passing Park House on the right.
As the road ends follow the track straight across the field. Cross the stile and follow the track downhill over the field to the woodland. Carry on along the track and past a cottage on the right.
About 300m along look out for a footbridge on the right across the River Coquet. Cross the bridge and keep to the path. At the main road turn right through Harbottle village.
Keep following the road out of the village and past the ruins of Harbottle Castle on your right. The Castle is well worth looking around. Continue along the road back to the Forestry England Car Park which is on your left.
The starting point for the walk is Forestry England West Wood Car Park.
From Rothbury take the B6381 west through Thropton. At ‘Flotterton’ take the right signed ‘Alwinton’. Harbottle is about 5 miles. The car park is in the woods on the left about 0.3 miles after the village.
Grid Ref: NT 926 049
W3W: zaps.stammer.forms
