Walking in Northumberland

A number of routes in the book were affected by Storm Arwen in November 2021, and several continue to be impassable. Based on information we have received from readers and from Forestry England, the following routes are likely to still be affected by fallen trees:

Walk 7 (St Cuthbert’s Cave and the Kyloe Hills) – Walkers are advised to avoid this route until further notice.

Walk 9 (Bewick Moor) – The latest reprint of the book contains a new route avoiding the forest.

Walk 10 (Yeavering Bell from Wooler) – Path closures are in force while forestry work is taking place on Wooler Common. This work should be completed by mid-May.

Walk 15 (Harbottle) – Path closures are in force while forestry work is taking place in the area. This work should be completed by Easter.

Walk 17 (Clennell Street and Usway Burn) – Path status unknown but the forest has been affected by fallen trees.

Walk 19 (Thrunton Wood) – Thrunton Wood is closed until the summer of 2023 at the earliest.

Walk 25 (Kielder Forest and Lakeside Way, North) – Walkers are advised to avoid this route until further notice.

Walk 26 (Deadwater Fell) – Path status on descent from Peel Fell unknown.

We have received reports of fallen trees and storm damage making several sections of this walk passable only with extreme care or by using detours. Walkers are advised to avoid this route until further notice.

We have received reports of trail closures and storm damage on several sections of this route. It will be updated for the next edition of the book. In the meantime, walkers are advised to avoid this route.

Readers have reported considerable changes to this route. It will be updated for the next edition of the book. In the meantime, walkers are advised to proceed with caution based on the following information:

On the first section of the walk (page 66 in the 2020 reprint), there are a significant number of fallen trees making the initial ascent through the forest extremely difficult, if not impossible. One reader informs us there are ways to climb through the trees and make it to the crags to rejoin the route by the Iron Age fort, but walkers should be very confident of their ability to do this as it does present danger of being scratched by trees.

Beyond the fort, there have been changes to the moorland landscape, including the creation of new paths and a new cairn that might cause confusion to those following the route description in the book. In addition, the waymarker post soon after the Blawearie ruins (page 70, second line) no longer exists.

A reader has informed us that the first loop on walk 6 (Norham Castle and River Tweed) has been made dangerous by riverbank erosion. A representative of the parish council has since been out to rewalk this section and reports that, although part of the path is close to the eroded riverbank, there is a new path being created by walkers slightly further back from the water’s edge. We suggest readers proceed with caution.

The map recommended for Walk 22 (Tarsetdale) should be OL42, not OL16

Page 22: Second paragraph starting "Two railways..."

Line 6 - delete Alnwick and replace with Alnmouth.
Line 7 - delete Morpeth and replace with Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Walk 13 (Ancient Ingram):

There is a mistake on page 94. The final sentence in the second full paragraph of the route description should read: “Then, after just 250m, you reach a clear track, along which you turn right.” The author wishes to apologise to any readers who have already gone astray due to this error.