St Oswald’s Way – Stage 4 – Warkworth to Rothbury.
August 17, 2023St Oswald’s Way – Stage 6 – Kirkwhelpington to Heavenfields
September 26, 2023St Oswald’s Way – Stage 4 – Warkworth to Rothbury.
August 17, 2023St Oswald’s Way – Stage 6 – Kirkwhelpington to Heavenfields
September 26, 2023St Oswald’s Way – Stage 5 – Rothbury to Kirkwhelpington.
This is the forth stage of the 97-mile St Oswald’s Way. We now head from Rothbury to Kirkwhelpington., a varied 14.6-mile day walk.
Embark on a captivating journey through time and nature as we delve into the historical wonders of St. Oswald’s Way. Join us on Stage 5 of the trail, as we trace the path from Rothbury to Kirkwhelpington. Immerse yourself in picturesque landscapes, ancient landmarks, and the stories they hold. Get ready for an unforgettable hiking experience that bridges the past and present.
Other resources:
Don’t forget to access/download the full route and mapping on OS Maps by clicking the walk map below.
Need to get the right equipment for your walk – explore our reviews.
For all St Oswald’s Way route and Maps.
Turn by Turn Directions
Stage 5 of the walk starts at Rothbury, where we concluded Stage 4 of the walk. It is worth spending some time at Rothbury to explore which is surrounded by beautiful scenery and is based in the heart of Northumberland with a bustling high street (Video complication from 4:10)
We commence this stage of the walk on the southern side of the River Coquet (Video 5:30) and head up onto the moors and the fells. After heading through the picturesque hamlet of Whitton we come to Sharpe’s Folly (Video 6:10) dating back to 1720-1758. As we continue down the market trail we have some spectacular views across the countryside towards the Simonside Hills (Video 7:20).
We now have some great walking over the moors, with excellent views from the Simonside Hills across the Northumberland coast, where we have previously walked on this trail. As we pass Spylaw we come to Forest Burn (Video 13:00), which is very picturesque. Once you exit the burn, be careful not to lose your way on the fells, using your map, GPS and compass is required at this point.
We now head over the moors on our way to Harwood Forest (Video 12:25), and numerous forest trails. After passing Fallowless (Video 17:45), we come to Fallowless Burn (Video 18:30) and a picturesque section of the walk along the burn towards Redpath.
We leave Harwood Forest and have a short section of walking on the road (Video 20:16) before heading towards Fairnley and onwards towards Catcherside Plantation (Video 20:40). We continue along the trail passing Catcherside and then West Whitehill, where we can see Kirkwhelpington for the first time (Video 22:45), and the conclusion of this stage of St Oswald’s Way.
The trail takes us across the fields and into Kirkwhelpington itself.
The final stage takes us from Kirkwhelpington across the fells and fields to the path of the Roma Wall and our conclusion at Haven Fields.
Outdoor Catch-Up:
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Resources used whilst bringing you this walk…
Mapping and Directions:
OS Map App – Ordnance Survey Maps and routing
Maps – Ordnance Survey Maps
Compass – Must have
Equipment used:
Jacket – Rab Microlight Alpine Jacket – Equipment Review
Jacket – Montane Gravity Gore-Tex Jacket
Footwear – Merrell Accentor Sport GTX
Boots – Scarpa Rush Trek GTX – Equipment Review
Trousers – Montane BMC Terra Pants
Waterproof Trousers – Mountain Hardwear Epic Pant
Socks – 1000 mile wool fusion double layer
Head Torch – Lifesystems Intensity 220 Head Torch – Equipment Review
Backpack – Hi Gear Active22
Bladder – Camelbak 2.5L Hydration Reservoir
Camera Kit
GoPro 5 – Go anywhere action camera
hohem iSteady Pro 4-Gimbal stabiliser – Making your video professional
Lavalier Microphone – Capture professional audio
Insta360 ONE X2-360 Degree Camera – bringing video to a new dimension
Insta360 3M (10ft) Invisible Selfie Stick – make it look like a drone
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Other Walks & How to equipment guides you may be interested in:
Other Walks:
St Oswald’s Way – Stage 4 – Warkworth to Rothbury
St Oswald’s Way – Stage 3 – Craster to Warkworth
St Oswald’s Way – Stage 2 – Bamburgh to Craster
St Oswald’s Way – Stage 1 – Holy Island to Bamburgh
Ingram Valley – Linhope – Ravenhill
Hen Hole, Three Sisters, Dunsdale & The Cheviot – What Great Walking.
Historic Market Town of Morpeth, Surrounding Countryside & River Walking.
Simonside Hills Circular in the Northumberland National Park.
Expert Review links:
Plan Watch Walk – Expert Reviews.
How to buy – The best Waterproof Jacket.
How to but – The best Walking Trousers.