Northumberland Rocks: a growing walking guide to 50 remarkable places

Sandstone ridges, volcanic crags, wooded gorges and stones shaped by people: explore Northumberland’s geology on foot, one well-researched walk at a time.

12 of the book’s 50 sites currently have checked walking links here. Last updated 1 November 2026. This is a growing guide. The other 38 are still being developed or assessed, not written off. We will add links as suitable walks are ready. A checked link means a researched route and an honest account of what it includes, not a guarantee of today’s conditions on the ground.

Cover artwork: AI-generated editorial illustration of walking and geological themes. It is not a photograph, an exact geological diagram or a depiction of any named place.

A different way to read the landscape

A crag can be the reason a path climbs. A band of resistant rock can influence the line of a wall. A quarry can reveal the material that built a house, while a wooded burn cuts through rocks that were there long before the trees. Looking for those connections gives a familiar walk another layer of interest.

Ian Jackson’s Northumberland Rocks, published by Northern Heritage in 2021, is the starting point for this project. Its 50 places range across the historic county, including Newcastle and North Tyneside. Our aim is to help walkers explore that variety through independently researched routes and practical, plainly described visits.

We are not trying to make 50 near-identical walks. A good existing route may already include a geological site, and a useful coastal or urban outing may eventually serve more than one. Length follows the place: a short visit can be worthwhile without an extra loop, while a longer hill walk deserves a clear account of the commitment involved.

The selection below includes established Walkmates walks, two newly developed routes and an existing long-distance stage. Their origins remain distinct. The book is credited as inspiration; no endorsement by Ian Jackson or Northern Heritage is implied. We have not reproduced the book’s prose, directions, maps or photographs.

Read the locator: dots mark the starts of the linked walks, not the geological features. Numbers refer to the book: 3 Drake Stone; 5 Jesmond Dene; 8 Simonside; 12 Cuddy’s Crags; 13 Cullernose Point; 14 Great Standrop; 16 Housey Crags; 20 Walltown Quarry; 33 Fallowfield; 37 Shaftoe Crags; 40 Duddo Stones; 44 Hareshaw Burn. The bar represents 10 km and the arrow indicates grid north. This is a location diagram, not a navigation map.

Open the full-size locator. Source-derived coordinates: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Choose the outing, then the geology

For a shorter introduction, look at Duddo Stones or Walltown Quarry. For a wooded outing, consider Jesmond Dene or Hareshaw Linn, remembering that steps, slopes and slippery ground can matter more than mileage. Simonside, Housey Crags and Hedgehope are exposed hill walks requiring appropriate equipment and navigation. The Housesteads–Greenhead and Heavenfield–Hexham journeys finish somewhere different from where they start.

Distances below describe the whole linked walk, not the distance between a car and a geological feature. Read the route page for its start, terrain, restrictions and current planning notes before setting off. These are choices by character, not a ranking or a claim that every walk suits every visitor.

Sandstone hills and the Cheviot skyline

Here the interest is often in the shape of the land: a boulder standing above a village, a ridge emerging from forest, or a tor visible across an upland slope. You do not need to climb onto a rock to appreciate its setting.

Drake Stone

Book site 3 · 7.3 km · circular

Visit the great sandstone boulder above Harbottle as part of a circuit taking in the lake, woodland and Coquet valley. View the Drake Stone from the ground-level path; the walk does not require climbing the rock.

Open the walk: The Drake Stone, Harbottle Lake and the Coquet

Simonside

Book site 8 · 7.3 km · circular

A forest approach leads onto Simonside’s sandstone ridge and continues towards Dove Crag. The exposed upper section makes this a hill walk, not simply a forest stroll. The route returns through the trees using a connecting footpath and forest track.

The change from forest to open ridge is part of the appeal. It also changes the exposure: wind and low cloud can make the upper walk a very different proposition from the sheltered start.

Open the walk: Simonside Ridge and Dove Crag

Housey Crags

Book site 16 · 7.1 km · out and back

The approach to Hedgehope Hill passes the Housey Crags locality before continuing onto exposed upland terrain. This is a substantial hill outing despite its relatively short distance and does not require scrambling onto the tor. Plan it without a pet dog; assistance-dog users should check the current official access directions.

Open the walk: Hedgehope Hill from Langleeford via Housey Crags

Great Standrop

Book site 14 · 11.9 km · out and back · Hard · allow about 6½ hours

This substantial Hedgehope Hill outing includes documented distant views towards Great Standrop from the Linhope approach. Interpret the granitic tor as part of the wider landscape; the walk does not visit or climb it. The upper route is exposed, rough and navigation-dependent, and current dog restrictions must be respected.

Plan this outing without a pet dog unless current official directions expressly permit your intended route; assistance-dog users should check the applicable provisions.

Open the walk: Hedgehope Hill from Linhope

Shaftoe Crags

Book site 37 · 11.2 km · circular

Combine Bolam Lake with lanes, farmland and the sandstone landscape around Shaftoe Crags. The full circuit extends well beyond the lake paths and includes road walking. It visits the broad crag locality without claiming a separate stop at every named formation.

Open the walk: Bolam Lake and Shaftoe Crags Walk: Circular Route

Whin Sill country and the Wall

Rock and human history meet closely here, but the walks differ greatly in scale: a short quarry outing, a long Wall stage and a one-way pilgrimage route. Choose the journey that suits you before choosing a stop.

Walltown Quarry

Book site 20 · 2.7 km · out and back

Explore the contrast between a former dolerite quarry and the Whin Sill crags above it. This short return walk links the restored quarry park with the ridge followed by Hadrian’s Wall. Enjoy the geology from the paths rather than approaching quarry faces.

Open the walk: Walltown Quarry and Crags: a short Whin Sill walk

Read the Walltown graphic: the coloured line is the linked route; the circle marks the start and finish, and the diamond marks the turn. Retrace the same route. The bar represents 500 m and the arrow indicates grid north. This is location context, not a navigation map or a photograph.

Open the full-size Walltown graphic. Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Cuddy’s Crags

Book site 12 · 16.9 km · one way

This longer, one-way Hadrian’s Wall walk includes the Cuddy’s Crags crest within a much broader journey from Housesteads to Greenhead. It is an existing Pennine Journey stage, not a newly invented short circuit. Arrange transport for the separate start and finish.

The geology is one thread in an established Pennine Journey stage. Allow a full walking day and arrange transport back from Greenhead.

Open the walk: Housesteads car park to Greenhead: Hadrian’s Wall and the crags

Fallowfield

Book site 33 · 7.8 km · one way

The Way of Light from Heavenfield to Hexham passes the sandstone-slab locality at Fallowfield. Look for the glacial story recorded in the stone without disturbing it; present visibility is not guaranteed. This is the established pilgrimage stage, not a visit to Fallowfield Mine.

Open the walk: Heavenfield to Hexham, the Way of Light

The coast, without a forced beach descent

The shore is a place of change. A responsible geological walk can stay on the coastal path; it need not descend to a tidal exposure or stand beneath an unstable cliff.

Cullernose Point

Book site 13 · 5.5 km · out and back

Follow the coast south from Craster to the dark crags of Cullernose Point, continuing towards Howick Bay before returning. The walk offers coastal geological context without requiring a beach descent. It does not promise a close-up view of the Howick Fault exposure.

The coastal route reaches the Cullernose locality on established paths. Although its title also mentions Howick Bay, that does not qualify the book’s separate Howick Haven exposure: a bay view and a close look at a particular fault are different visits.

Open the walk: Craster, Cullernose Point and Howick Bay

Read the coastal graphic: the coloured line is the linked landward route; the circle marks the start and finish, and the diamond marks the turn. Retrace the same route. The bar represents 500 m and the arrow indicates grid north. It includes Cullernose Point, not a beach descent or a verified close-up visit to the separate Howick Fault exposure. This is location context, not a navigation map or a photograph.

Open the full-size coastal graphic. Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Wooded valleys and stones shaped by people

Jesmond Dene

Book site 5 · 5.6 km · circular

Newcastle’s wooded valley combines sandstone and coal-bearing geology with a landscape shaped by mills and Armstrong’s engineering. The circuit includes the waterfall and Armstrong Park, using established paths rather than the streambed. Expect steps, slopes and some unsurfaced footing.

This is a useful reminder that geology is present in a city as well as on remote hills. Follow the linked park route and current local signs; streambeds and closed bridges are not shortcuts.

Open the walk: Jesmond Dene and Armstrong Park Circular

Duddo Stones

Book site 40 · 2.5 km · out and back

A short permissive farmland approach leads to five weathered sandstone pillars forming Duddo’s prehistoric stone circle. Take time for the stones and interpretation board, then return the same way. Follow estate signs and check the stated access restrictions before visiting.

Open the walk: Duddo Stones (Standing Stones)

Hareshaw Burn and Hareshaw Linn

Book site 44 · 4.7 km · out and back

Follow the burn through a wooded gorge to Hareshaw Linn, with traces of Bellingham’s industrial past along the way. The maintained visitor route crosses six footbridges and returns along the same path. Wet leaves, mud and stone can make the steps and uneven surfaces slippery; stop at the end of the maintained path.

Open the walk: Hareshaw Linn Waterfall

What counts as a visit?

Three ways to interpret a place:

• On the path: Cullernose Point provides coastal landscape context from the established path, without a beach descent.
• From a distance: Great Standrop is interpreted from a documented view on the Hedgehope approach, not by visiting or touching the tor.
• Inside a visitor site: future museum or garden entries may require admission and depend on opening times. Passing outside is not automatically a qualifying visit.

This editorial diagram does not describe current site conditions or grant access permission. Open the full-size diagram.

A route needs a meaningful connection with the feature, not just a line passing close to a map pin. Sometimes that means following a path through a geological landscape. Sometimes a documented view is enough, as at Great Standrop. We say which it is.

A cliff-top route does not automatically include a tidal rock exposure. A lake circuit does not automatically include a neighbouring museum. If a future museum entry depends on going inside, or a garden walk needs admission during opening hours, that condition will be part of the entry. We will not add an uncertain beach, quarry, private-field or riverbank detour simply to tick off another site.

The remaining 38 places

These book sites are still being assessed or prepared for this guide. Some have promising walking routes; others need clearer access, visitor arrangements or a dependable way to interpret the feature. Their presence here is a progress list, not a recommendation to enter the site, and there are no unfinished walk links to follow.

• 1. Akenshaw Burn — walking entry in preparation.
• 2. Belsay Hall — walking entry in preparation.
• 4. Green Carts Quarry — walking entry in preparation.
• 6. Kielder Stone — walking entry in preparation.
• 7. Queen’s Crag — walking entry in preparation.
• 9. Sugar Sands Bay — walking entry in preparation.
• 10. Tynemouth Castle — walking entry in preparation.
• 11. Coquet valley — walking entry in preparation.
• 15. Holy Island — walking entry in preparation.
• 17. Limestone Corner — walking entry in preparation.
• 18. Linhope Spout — walking entry in preparation.
• 19. Lumsden Law — walking entry in preparation.
• 21. Berwick — walking entry in preparation.
• 22. Coquet Head — walking entry in preparation.
• 23. Crindledykes — walking entry in preparation.
• 24. Cullercoats — walking entry in preparation.
• 25. Howick Haven — walking entry in preparation.
• 26. Saltpan Rocks — walking entry in preparation.
• 27. Beldon Cleggh — walking entry in preparation.
• 28. Bradford Kame — walking entry in preparation.
• 29. Broomlee Lough — walking entry in preparation.
• 30. Down Hill — walking entry in preparation.
• 31. Druridge Bay — walking entry in preparation.
• 32. Echo Crags — walking entry in preparation.
• 34. Falstone Moss — walking entry in preparation.
• 35. Gelt Linn — walking entry in preparation.
• 36. Hauxley — walking entry in preparation.
• 38. Allenheads — walking entry in preparation.
• 39. Beltingham — walking entry in preparation.
• 41. Dukesfield — walking entry in preparation.
• 42. Hancock Museum — walking entry in preparation.
• 43. Haltwhistle Burn — walking entry in preparation.
• 45. Hartley New Pit — walking entry in preparation.
• 46. Lynemouth — walking entry in preparation.
• 47. Newcastle upon Tyne — walking entry in preparation.
• 48. The Spetchells — walking entry in preparation.
• 49. Town Moor — walking entry in preparation.
• 50. Woodhorn Museum — walking entry in preparation.

The list retains the book’s site names. “Beldon Cleggh” is also encountered geographically as Beldon Cleugh. Several future entries may share one worthwhile walk; we will explain that rather than pad the collection with duplicates.

Before you go

• Read the individual route, including its actual starting point and whether you must arrange return transport.
• Check current manager notices, closures and any admission or seasonal opening arrangements. A route being online does not mean every path is open today.
• On the coast, stay behind barriers and away from cliff bases. Do not add an unplanned tidal excursion to a landward walk.
• In the hills, allow for wind, cloud, wet ground and navigation. Check local dog restrictions rather than assuming that a lead makes access permissible.
• Leave rocks, fossils, archaeological remains and sensitive vegetation undisturbed. Observe from established, permitted paths and turn back when conditions or closures make the planned route unsuitable.

About this growing guide

Inspired by Ian Jackson, Northumberland Rocks (Northern Heritage, 2021). The numbered site names provide a concordance with the book, while the walking text and route research are independently prepared. Existing route identities and sources are retained; our selection is not a ranking. No endorsement by the author or publisher is implied. See the book’s contents, the British Geological Survey’s Northumberland geodiversity audit, and the JNCC account of the Cheviot tors for background. Practical sources for each walk remain on its route page.

We check maps, managing-authority information and geological sources, with separate review of what each route actually includes. These are desk-based checks, not a promise of present ground conditions or a substitute for your judgement on the day. The coverage total refers to the 12 linked book sites in this edition, not 50 completed walks.

Update record — 1 November 2026: first rolling edition, with 12 checked site links. Great Standrop is included through a documented distant view on the existing Hedgehope walk. The remaining entries will be added as their routes and practical details are ready.