Forests of Rothbury - Planning your visit

 

How much does it cost?

All the Forests of Rothbury are free to access!

When are they open?

Access to all the forests and associated car parks can be made 24 hours a day.

What facilities are there?

All the forests are served with a car park, picnic site, information point and waymarked walks.

How to get there?

The Forests of Rothbury is the collective name for the Forestry Commission woodlands in the north and east of Northumberland.

Simonside Hills

By Public Transport: Bus number 416 connects Rothbury with Morpeth (both mainline rail station and buses to Newcastle). On Sundays and Bank Holidays, Northumbria buses run an additional service direct from Newcastle and Gateshead to Rothbury (number 508). Simonside is two miles to the south of Rothbury. To access the Hills on foot, follow the public footpaths from Rothbury via Whitton and Hillhead Lane, a distance of 2.5 miles (4km).

By Car: Signposted from the B6342 (Rothbury to Scot’s Gap road)

Multimap directions for Simonside Hills

Holystone Wood

By Public Transport: There is no bus service in the proximity of the Wood.

By Car: Holystone village is signposted from the B6341 (Elsdon to Rothbury road). The Wood is 500 metres west of the village.

Multimap directions for Holystone Wood

Thrunton Wood

By Public Transport: There is no bus service to Thrunton Wood. However, a service runs every two hours from Alnwick to Wooler (number 473, IDM Travel) that stops in Whittingham, approximately 1.5 miles (2km) north of the Wood. Access to the wood is on foot via ‘Whittingham Lane’.

By Car: Thrunton is signposted from the A697, Newcastle to Coldstream road.

Multimap directions for Thrunton Wood

Hepburn Wood

By Public Transport: There is no bus service in the proximity of the Wood

By Car: A mile and a half south-east of the entrance to Chillingham Estate.

Multimap directions for Hepburn Wood

Wooler Common

By Public Transport: Wooler can be reached by a fifty minute bus journey from Alnwick (service number 473, IDM Travel). This service runs every two hours. A town bus service will take you within 400 metres of the Common at the edge of Wooler. The last part of the journey is undertaken on foot along the public road access on to the Common.

For full timetable information on all public transport journeys in the Northeast, call the ‘Traveline’ on 0870 6082608 or visit www.travelinenortheast.info for the online journey planner.

By Car: Signposted opposite the Bus Station in Wooler Town Centre. The Common is one mile west of Wooler.

Multimap directions for Wooler Common

Where to Stay?

The main hubs for a visit to the Forests of Rothbury are Wooler in the north and Rothbury in the south. Sited in Northumberland National Park means both towns and the surrounding area have a wide selection of good quality accommodation options.

The ‘Visit Northumbria’ website has a list of accommodation in the area and runs an online booking service at www.visitnorthumbria.com or call their visitor helpline on 08701 601781.

Nearest Tourist Information Centres:
Alnwick 01665 510665
Morpeth 01670 500700
Rothbury 01669 620887
Wooler 01668 282123