OVERVIEW: Stretching north from Alwinton to the Scottish Borders, Clennell Street was an important route even before the Romans came to Britain. In medieval times it was a drove road, and later Border reivers used the route to return with their plunder of stolen cattle. In the 17th century the Street was used by smugglers taking illicit whisky and other contraband over the border. All is quiet now, and the ancient route makes a fine walking path across the Cheviot Hills. The village of Alwinton sits in a hollow in the hills where the rivers of Alwin and Coquet meet. One of the oldest and most naturally beautiful villages in Northumberland, it’s above all a shepherds’ village, with a famous sheep show held there every October.

DETAILS:
Region : North
Area : Northumberland
Length : 14.5km/9 miles
Time : 4½hrs
Difficulty : Moderate

Is this walk for you?
Terrain : Hill tracks and country roads. Nowhere steep. This is sheep country so ensure you keep dogs under close control or on a lead.
Stiles : 5 all easy. A number of gates. Please leave as found. Suitable for children and dogs.

PLANNING:
Parking : Alwinton village car park.
Start grid ref : NT920063
Nearest town : Rothbury.
Refreshments : Pub in Alwinton. Good selection in Rothbury.
Public toilets : Alwinton.
Public transport : None of any practical use.

MAPS:
Ordnance Survey
Landranger 80.
Outdoor Leisure 16.

THE WALK:
Section 1. From the car park in Alwinton turn left and walk past the houses on the village street. Where the road swings to the right continue straight ahead to cross a wooden bridge over Hosedon Burn. Beyond the bridge turn left along a surfaced road which soon becomes a stony path. The track rises to pass through a gate in a stone wall. Continue uphill, passing to the left of the ruined remains of the old hamlet of Clennellstreet, where there was once a school.

Section 2. 1.6km/1 mile. Stride out now along ancient Clennell Street, walking in the footsteps of cattle drovers, thieves, rogues, vagabonds and smugglers. All you’ll meet today will be other walkers heading for the hills! Continue in a northerly direction, passing to the left of the ruins of Wholehope, a former shepherd’s house and youth hostel. The track now passes through trees at the south-western fringe of Kidland Forest. In 0.8km (½mile) the path emerges from the woods at grid ref 898104. At this point the route leaves Clennell Street to return to Alwinton.

Section 3. 7.2km/4½ miles. At a waymark post, turn left beside a fence. You will soon reach a sheep enclosure which would make a good lunch stop on a windy day. Just downhill there is a stile in a fence with a waymark post pointing forward along the green ridge of Copper Snout. To the right of the ridge is the valley of the Unsway Burn, while on the left flows Wholehope Burn. Continue along the ridge on the well-defined track which soon slants down to the left to join a forest road. Follow it down to a point just east of Shillmoor Farm.

Section 4. 10.5km/6½ miles. When a single field lies between you and the valley road, cut down to the left to reach a gate and waymark post across the Wholehope Burn. The track slants across the hillside to cross another burn. You can now see where the track crosses a final headland. Follow waymark posts over the hill and down a slope to the road west of Alwinton. Turn left and walk along the road to reach the village car park.