GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Hepburn Woods

2.49 miles (4 km)

This walk visits Hepburn Woods in Northumberland. There's miles of peaceful woodland trails and some fine views from the adjacent Hepburn Crag.
You can start your walk from the car park near to the crags and Ros Castle. From here there's trails to follow south into the woods. On the way you'll pass Bertheles stone, a large boulder that has at some time detached itself from the crags above. There's also an Iron Age Hill Fort and some pretty heather in the summer months.
The crags are located just to the east of the start point for the walk. There's an Iron Age Hillfort here with lots of pretty heather during the summer months. From the elevated position of the area there are fine views towards the Cheviots.

Postcode

NE66 4EA - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Hepburn Woods OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Hepburn Woods Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The nearby Chillingham Castle has some nice tea rooms where you could enjoy some refreshments after your walk. The 13th century castle also has some lovely grounds and gardens to explore.

Dog Walking

The woodland trails are ideal for dog walking so you'll probably see other dogs on a fine day.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head north east from the car park and you can enjoy a climb to Ros Castle. Here you'll find an Iron Age Hillfort with fine views to the coast.
Head north and you can pay a visit to Chillingham Castle. The 13th century castle is said to be the most haunted in Britain. It's surrounded by gardens, lakes and fountains with easy footpaths to explore on. You can find the castle just to the north west of the hill at postcode NE66 5NJ. From the hill top there are fine views over the estate and the wild cattle in the park.
The woods are not far from Alnwick where you could try the Alnwick to Bamburgh Walk and visit the historic Bamburgh castle on the coast.
To the west you can enjoy a more challenging climb to Hedgehope Hill. Wooler Common is also located a few miles to the north west and has some fine trails to try.
The walk to Cateran Hole starts from the woods car park. You can follow trails east to the unusual site where you'll find a series of steps leading down to a murky underground cave.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cheviots Walks and Northumberland Walks pages.

Photos

Hepburn Wood - geograph.org.uk - 474741

Hepburn Wood From the ridge just above the wood which leads around to Chillingham Park.

Cup and Ring marked boulder on Bewick Hill - geograph.org.uk - 1139519

Cup & Ring marked boulder on the nearby Bewick Hill. This photograph shows the unusual horizontal line of cups carved on the vertical south face of the large cup and ring marked block. View is north showing Hepburn Wood on the steep western scarp below the moorland plateau.

Above the forest at Hepburn Crags - geograph.org.uk - 1142205

Above the forest at Hepburn Crags. View towards Chillingham Park

Track in Hepburn Wood - geograph.org.uk - 4466043

Track in Hepburn Wood

Above the forest at Hepburn Crags - geograph.org.uk - 1142205

Above the forest at Hepburn Crags

Bronze age burial cist and capstone - geograph.org.uk - 1818058

Bronze age burial cist and capstone in the woods.

Hepburn Moor - geograph.org.uk - 4808165

Hepburn Moor. The moor lies just to the east of the woods. You could follow footpaths onto the moor and enjoy the lovely heather in late summer.

Bracken and heather above Hepburn Wood - geograph.org.uk - 4551846

Bracken and heather above Hepburn Wood

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Hepburn Woods.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Hepburn Woods.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)