Start OS Grid Ref: NY 937 933

Nearest Sat Nav Postcode: NE19 1AB

Local Services: Otterburn & Rothbury

Terrain: Roads, tracks and footpaths,stiles and footbridges

Description: An easy walk suitable formost abilities with great views of Elsdon

Please keep dogs under close control

Route:

Grade: Easy

Distance: 2.6 miles / 4.3 km

Time: 2 hours

Map: OS OL42 Explorer 1:25000 Kielder Water & Forest

Start & Parking: North end of Elsdon village, small car park by the bridge

Elsdon and the Todholes

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D

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From the car park take the roadthat is signed ‘Landshot/Whiskershiel/Eastnook/Hudspeth’ which goes throughthe farm gate. Continue along this road.

At the junction follow the sign toLandshot, and continue on along theroad past the farmhouse and shepherd’scottage on the left.

Immediately before the third cattlegrid turn right and follow the footpathsigned ‘East Todholes’ over the sleeperbridge, through the wicket gate andround to the wall. On reaching the wall turn right and make your way up to the gap in the fence, keeping the wall on your left. Once through the gap continue following the wall to theend of the field.

Cross the ladder stile in the cornerover the wall, and continue up throughthe field heading for the telegraph poleto the right of the big shed. On reachingthe telegraph pole at the corner of thegarden wall continue on to the ladderstile ahead, keeping the wall on your left.

B

C

Once over the ladder stile turn rightonto the farm track. Carry on along thetrack past West Todholes until you reachthe main road.

At the road turn right. Take the foot-path signed ‘Elsdon’, crossing over thestep stile and bearing left across the fieldto the fence. At the fence continue downto the next step stile. Cross over this stileand continue on down to the bottom ofthe field. During summer months this fieldis a hay meadow full of wild flowers andpollinating insects and bumblebees.

Cross the step stile and turn rightdown to the sleeper bridge. Cross overthe sleeper bridge and turn left followingthe path to a smaller bridge. Cross overthis bridge and make your way over tothe footbridge next to the sewage works.

Cross over the footbridge and turnright through the metal gate. Continuestraight ahead along the road betweenthe houses. At the village green turn rightand follow the road back to the carpark.

To Rothbury

To Otterburn

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E

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F

© Crown Copyright and database rights (2017) Ordnance Survey Licence Number 100022521

Motte & Bailey Castle

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Please use an OS map on this walk

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Village green

Tower (pele)

St Cuthbert’sChurch

Old School HouseTea Room

START Car Park

B6341

B6341

Elsdon

Points of interest

As you set off on this walk the pattern ofmedieval rig and furrow cultivation canbe seen on the hillside around Landshothill. The fields, called landshots, were notenclosed by hedges, walls or fences butwere separated by a strip of unploughedland known as a headland. The earliestreference to ‘Landshot’ is in a 1528 document, when it was farmed byRobert Hedley and his sons, John andWilliam. At that time a system called‘gavel kind’ was in operation; when aman became too old to farm he dividedthe farm between his sons. In this wayfarms became smaller. Todholes, like allthe other farmsteads in this valley, is alsomentioned in 16th century documents.Tod, meaning fox, is probably an Anglo-Saxon word and its frequent use in placenames is evidence that foxes were aswidespread then as they are now.

Wildlife to look out for

Upland hay meadows are internationallyrare and Northumberland National Parkhas some of the best in Europe. Theflower-rich hay meadows in this area provide a blaze of colour in high summerand are a haven for wildlife. They containplants such as wood cranesbill, buttercup,clover, pignut and yellow rattle. Pollinatorssuch as the white-tailed bumblebee, common carder bumblebee, commonblue butterfly and chimney sweeper mothcan all be seen.

The moors around Elsdon are a goodplace to see and hear the curlew, Britain’slargest wading bird, and is used as theemblem for Northumberland NationalPark. The curlew return in spring to breedhere, with the majority being found on theedge of the in-bye and moorland.

The hedges and rough grassland aroundhere are an ideal habitat for barn owls.

THE SILL

THE SILL: National Landscape Discovery Centre

Kirknewton

NORTHUMBERLANDNATIONAL PARK

HADRIAN’S WALL

Elsdon

A little bit of history

Elsdon is surrounded by history and iswell worth exploring! Near to the villagegreen is a Medieval tower house (pele),the earthworks of a Norman motte andbailey castle, a 12th century church andan 18th century pinfold (stone enclosurefor stray sheep and cattle). Nearby isWinter’s Gibbet, the windswept spotwhere the body of William Winter washung, following his execution for the murder of Elsdon shopkeeper MargaretCrozier in 1791.

The Otterburn Ranges

Much of the land to the north west ofElsdon is owned by the Ministry of Defence(MOD). Known as the Otterburn Rangesthey are one of England’s remotestupland areas and have been used formilitary training since 1911. The 90sqmiles of Range provide a realistic environment for training more than300,000 NATO troops every year.

The landscape is rich in history andwildlife and offers visitors tranquilwalks and breathtaking cycle rides.

Further information on Otterburn RangesT: 0191 239420

Directions - To the walk start point

From Rothbury: Follow the B6341 westout of Rothbury for approximately 8 milesto Elsdon. The car park is on the left justas you enter the village, beside the burn.

From Newcastle: Head north on the A696,passing through Belsay. After approx 18 miles turn left onto the B6341, signed‘Elsdon’. The car park is through the village on the right after crossing the burn.

Public Transport Information

T: 0871 2002233 www.traveline.org.uk

Local facilities

Elsdon Old School House Tea Roomserves coffee, tea, cakes and snacks, andis very popular with cyclists and walkers,it is also a National Park Information Point.

Photos ©: Peter Skelton, David Taylor, North East Wildlife, NNPA.

Otterburn Ranges Elsdon Barn Owl

Hay MeadowOld School House Tea Room