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Start at the free Forestry England car park in the woods west of Holystone village. This 6.4 km circuit climbs into the plantation above the village, then returns through the oak woodland of Holystone North Wood. Allow about 2 hours 15 minutes for the slopes, uneven paths and a short stop.
Leave the car park by its entrance and turn right along Burma Road, walking uphill away from the village. After roughly 1.3 km, turn right onto the forest track. Follow its bend north, then west to the main north-south forest byway. Turn right and continue uphill through the plantation. Stay on this main route past the side tracks and the bend above Dove Crag Burn.
At the fork before the route reaches the Harbottle road, take the right-hand woodland path southeast. Follow it down through the eastern plantation, keeping to the main path as it bends south into North Wood. Continue to the lower junction, turn left along the public path back to Burma Road, then turn left and retrace the short approach into the car park.
The route uses forest tracks and public woodland paths rather than the crag itself. North Wood has narrow, uneven sections with exposed roots, and wet weather can make the ground slippery or muddy. The longer forest paths are not waymarked, so take the route map and check each junction. Burma Road carries vehicles and forestry machinery may use the tracks. Respect any local forestry closures and keep dogs on a lead in the nature reserve. The car park has picnic facilities; bring refreshments.
Access and visitor information: Forestry England, Holystone Wood and the Harbottle and Holystone Forest Plan; Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Holystone North Wood. Route independently checked against the forest recreation map and current mapped tracks on 6 October 2026.
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