Rothbury, Northumberland travel guide and Rothbury information

Visit Rothbury

Rothbury is a town on the river Coquet, on the eastern edge of the Northumberland National Park of north-east England, 12 miles south-west of Alnwick.

It is the setting that is a large part of the appeal of Rothbury, with a backdrop of the moors and hills running behind the town in all directions.

The small town is centred around an open village green and a sturdy 19th century church and churchyard, and falls on both sides of the river (crossed by a bridge) - it is a traditional northern town with a good variety of stone buildings to admire, and a fair number of shops, pubs and hotels. A different architectural characteristic can be seen in the smaller houses built by Lord Armstrong, an important 19th century industrialist (and owner of Cragisde, below).

Also be sure allow time to amble along the picturesque stretch of river in rothbury a little before setting off for the hills.

Nearby the impressive Victorian mansion of Cragside (pictured) is in a picturesque location on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by extensive gardens, including a very large rock garden, woodlands and a lake. Cragside is operated by the National Trust and is famous for being the first building in the world to be lit using electricity generated by hydro-electric power.

Rothbury is a popular base for those (mostly hikers) wishing to explore the Simonside Hills and further afield within the National Park. The Tourist Office is next to the church if you are visiting and need suggestions about where to walk.

You can find more local travel ideas in the Northumberland National Park guide and the Northumberland guide.