Hepburn Wood

Visitor information

Spectacular views await from the high escarpments of this timeless place

Hepburn Wood captures the inherent qualities of Northumberland perfectly – broad, sweeping vistas and tranquil landscapes.

Walking, mounting biking and horse riding are welcome in Hepburn Wood.

 

At a glance

Dogs welcome
16/05/2022 12:15

Things to do

Enjoy a tasty treat in the forest at Hepburn Wood. Just bring along good food and company!

To prevent forest fires and reduce waste, please do not bring any barbecues into our forests.

Hepburn Wood offers a range of beautiful forest walks, stunning views and prehistoric features for you to discover.

A walk along the forest road is a pleasant stroll on the old carriage drive built when Hepburn was a private estate belonging to neighbouring Chillingham Park.

A longer walk up the side of Hepburn Crag is marked by two sharp climbs, but you will be rewarded with stunning views from the top of the lofty sandstone escarpments.

On the heather-clad natural vantage point of Hepburn Crag, the remains of a hill fort suggest people have inhabited this site for at least 4000 years. A second climb to the top of Ros Hill (National Trust) reveals a panorama containing seven Northumbrian castles.

Nearby forests

Ancient Woodland near Wooler

Wooler and the surrounding lands endured frequent raids by marauding Scots between the fourteenth and sixteenth century and later by the border raiders or 'Reivers'.

Wooler Common's recent past is less bloodthirsty and has a network of public and permissive paths.

An easy access trail encircles two picturesque ponds at the heart of this mixture of mature woodland and open common.

Mounting biking and horse riding are welcome.

Forests of Rothbury,  view from top of Simonside

Thrunton Wood is planted on and around two steep escarpments of sandstone – Thrunton Crag in the north, and Long Crag /Coe Crag to the south. These lofty crags provide spectacular viewpoints from which to admire the Northumbrian scenery.

Two exhilarating walks allow you to explore the miles of trails as they wind through the maturing forest and across open moorland.

Mountain biking and horse riding are welcome in this wood.

Dark skies brightened by a clear rainbow over green broadleaf trees

Found within the Northumberland National Park, just north of the village of Alwinton, Kidland Forest's mosaic of trees is the perfect setting for a forest adventure. Unwind under the blanket of spruce, pine and larch while taking in the glorious views and peaceful sounds of the River Alwin. 

Kidland Forest is a designated Red Squirrel Reserve and also houses Memmerkirk Chapel, a Scheduled Ancient Monument which are the remains of a chapel dating from the 14th to 17th century. 

Forests of Rothbury, Simonside Crag

From the distinctive table-top profile of Simonside in the south, to Wooler Common adjacent to Wooler town in the north of the area, the Forests of Rothbury are not short of stunning views in some of the most iconic Northumberland landscapes.

With six main sites to choose from, the Forests of Rothbury provide beautiful forested walks but also wild moorland, spectacular crag top views and important archaeological sites.

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