Rothbury Guide

Your Guide to Rothbury

Known locally as the Capital of Coquetdale, the traditional Northumbrian village of Rothbury is built on a sandstone hillside. It offers an excellent range of shops, with many art galleries, tea rooms, cafes and pubs. It makes a very convenient base for fishing and for walking into the Northumberland National Park and Simonside, as well as offering less strenuous riverside walks. Rothbury lies near the centre of rural Northumberland, 12 miles from Alnwick, 15 miles from Morpeth and 29 miles from Newcastle upon Tyne. As such it has been a local centre since the 13th century and at various times had a castle, a market and magistrate's court. Nearby Cragside House and Gardens, home to Lord Armstrong is perhaps the most famous attraction in the area. Buy a full guide to Rothbury.

Attractions: Attractive Village, Riverside picnic areas, specialist shops and galleries, Cragside House and Gardens, golfing, nearby Brinkburn Priory, many circular walking routes.

Getting There

Travelling to Rothbury by car is one of the most picturesque journeys you are ever likely to take, however you approach Rothbury you are surrounded by stunning countryside. A particularly nice drive if you are coming from the North via Alnwick is to take the B6341. This road goes via Alnwick Moor, past Edlingham and Cragside House and Gardens and boasts unrivalled views of the Northumberland countryside.

The B6341 runs through the centre of Rothbury and should be used if approaching from the North or West. From the South and East it is best to use the B6344. There are two main car parks, the main car and coach park at the South side of the river and Beggars Rigg car park to the West of Rothbury.

Both car parks have picnic facilites and lovely views of the river. The main car park (pictured left) also has public toilets, a children's play area and plenty of opportunities for feeding the many ducks. Parking fees have always been extremely reasonable in Rothbury and hopefully they will stay that way for a long time. There is also parking available on the High Street at no charge, however we would encourage you to use the main car parks as High Street gets extremely congested. The little walk over the river is also too pleasant to be missed!

Travelling by Arriva Bus there are two routes that pass through Rothbury, the 508 that comes from (and goes to) Gateshead and Newcastle and the 144 that comes from Morpeth. For more information see Northumberland County Council's Website about Bus Travel. The nearest Train Station is Morpeth approximately 15 miles away and Newcastle Airport is about 30 miles South.

Attractions and Things To Do in Rothbury

Exploring the beautiful outdoors is definitely a theme in what there is to do in and around Rothbury. It's perfectly set up for the serious walker with the Northumberland National Park and Simonside on your doorstep. There's also plenty circular walks that have Rothbury as a starting and finishing point. The area is also excellent for the keen sports person with fishing on the River Coquet and also at nearby Fontburn Reservoir. Cragside House and Gardens, the home of Lord Armstrong is just a couple of miles away and makes a fascinating day out for all the family. Other recommended places of interest include Brinkburn Priory and Goats on the Roof. Explore your guide to Rothbury's Attractions...  

Restaurants, Pubs and Cafes in RothburyRothbury serves as a hub for the outlying Villages and as such has a good choice of places to eat and drink. You might be surprised to hear that in such a small place not only are there a number of pubs and cafes, but there is also an Italian restaurant and an Indian restaurant! The numerous cafes are extremely popular with the walkers and there is a good choice on offer here as well. There are also a number of country pubs in the Rothbury area that are worth visiting, so I have included them as well. Explore your guide to Places to Eat and Drink in Rothbury...

Accommodation in Rothbury - Hotels, B&B's, Self-Catering, Cottages, Caravans and Camping

Rothbury has an excellent selection of Hotels, B&B's, self catering accommodation, bunkhouses and a caravan site. It's the perfect base to explore the Northumberland National Park, being particularly popular with people who enjoy walking and fishing. Explore your guide to Places Stay in Rothbury...

Shopping, Food and Supermarkets

Rothbury has an award-winning selection of local, independent shops in which you can buy practically anything from meat to shoes and wine. We have highlighted the best in independent retailers including crafts and gifts, food shops, supermarkets and clothing. There are also a number of art and crafts galleries that celebrate and sell original and local crafts. Explore your guide to Shopping, Food and Supermarkets in Rothbury...

Events in Rothbury

Rothbury Music Festival celebrates the popularity of Folk and Traditional music in the area. The Festival takes place in July each year, has been running for over thirty years and now draws musicians from around the country. Rothbury has it's own Highland Pipe Band who always open the proceedings and display their marching and plating skills. The event consumes the whole Village with many performances and ceilidh's across the weekend. Anothe popular event is the Rothbury and Coquetdale Walking Festival that takes place in June annually. With many walks of differing lengths and difficulty in a period of just over a week there really is something for everybody. Visit their website for more information.

The Rothbury Food and Craft Festival takes place each year on May Bank Holiday Monday. The festival was started in 2008 and has since grown each year to become an event that attracts 10,000 people to this beautiful Village. it's a great day out for the whole family with over 60 stalls, a marquee, entertainment and of course lots of food and crafts! Visit their website for more information.

Amenities

Rothbury Tourist Information Centre (one of the main centre's for the Northumberland National Park) is located in the Coquetdale Centre in the middle of the Village by the Church. The full address is The Coquetdale Centre, Church House, Church Street, Rothbury, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE65 7UP, Contact 01669 620 887.

Rothbury Community Cinema was set up with the aim to bring interesting and entertaining films to the area on a regular basis without local people having to make a 60 mile round trip to the cinema. There are usually two films shown every month on a Friday evening and entrance is free (however, a small donation is requested for the use of the Jubilee Hall to pay for the heating etc). Check their website for film times. Other amenities include Rothbury Bowling Club, Coquetdale Swimming and Fitness Centre, Rothbury Lawn Tennis Club, Rothbury Football Club and Rothbury Cricket Club.

Have we missed something? Can you recommend an attraction, restaurant or accommodation? Or maybe you have a business you would like to be included? Let us know.