| 1. 1. Starting at Rothbury carpark go out on to the road and turn an immediate right..yep thats right up that awful big hill to start.
2. At the top (or what you think is the top) turn left and climb some more, keep your eyes peeled on the right for an opening with a bridleway signpost it will look like you're going into someones garden. Take that turn and proceed past the knackered old tower on the right. You'll now see Simonside forest and crag on your left as you continue to climb.
3. Continue straight on over cattle grate and head to the farm (this is a public right of way)
4. Take a left when you go round the farm aand it will take you onto a field again there is a bridleway sign, through the next gate and straight over hte next field (check out the view on your right!). Thrrough the next gate and turn left you are heading for simonside forest now.
5. At the bottom of hte field turn right through the single track and out onto the road.
6. Straight over the road and cattle grate and inot the little singletrack over the picnic area and into simonside forest car park.
7. Go straight past the signpost for walkers on the left and up the next climb.
8. At the top look for the telephone mast and take a left, you'll head down hill and then turn a gradual right where you will see the crag itself directly infront.
9. Turn right at the next junction so the crag is always on your left. Go up towards the crag - check out the view point - awesome.
10. Now pass the crag so its behind you and turn left into Harwood forest.
11. Keep going straight on till you get to CHartners and go past it.
12. Miss the first turn off and the second turn off, then take the next one on the right. Continue straight on following the map and eventually after you come through a farm you'll arrive at Elsdon.
13. Either a stop at the inpromptu cafe (highly recommend the gibbet cake!!) or continue up the gibbet or pukey hill as the locals call it.
14. You know when you've reached the top of the gibbet when you see the gibbet itself with the wooden head on it. The rewards behind yo are incredible.
15. Continue on and head towards harwood village, at the village turn left and continue back to Chartners.
16. Up the hill with chartners on your left heding towards a sandy path straight ahead (you'll go past a marked and fenced off plantation) go to the fence and look left - thats the hepple white knuckle. Go all the way down the white nuckle and at the bottom go right across the sheep fields towards the very posh looking house and rhodadendrons.
17. On the road turn right and head back to a farm which has a bridleway sign - going to wards the river. This road takes in quite a lot of climbing so you know where the river is - on your left.
18. Once on the tow path you'l come to a bridge take it. (its narrow and single person so dismount)
19. contiune to the road and turn right.
20. keep looking on the right for a bridleway sign as it takes you along the river to finish at the bridge where you started (but obviously on theotherside of the river!
21. Once you've done...proceed to the bacon buttie van mmmmmm. enjoy! |