Simonside Crags
The Simonside Crags are most
popular with walkers and climbers. Close to the
town of Rothbury, these hills have had special significance
since ancient times.
Distance: 9.3Km (5.8 miles).
Route plan
Total Elevation: 226m (741ft).
Difficulty: Strenuous. Steep,
rocky accent and boggy top. Good footwear essential.
OS Map Reference: NZ 036 997GB
Grid. Explorer
Map OL42,  Landranger
81
Parking: Free parking at the
Simonside picnic site.
Toilet Facilities: No
Refreshments Facilities: None
at site, but pubs, shops and cafés at Rothbury (3km)
and surrounding villages.
Accessibility: The crags can
only be climbed on foot. Although lower part is
made up of well prepared road.
The Walk
Start from the picnic area.
Face the notice board and head right along the
service road. Follow the road, gently heading
uphill. You will eventually see a communications
mask. Just before you get to the mast the road
forks. Take the right hand fork and walk past the
mast.
Follow the road down to the next
junction. Take the left toward Little Church Rock. You
may want to take the detour to the rock. It is just a
few metres along a special path. Continue on the main
path after the rock.
Eventually the way-marked paths
will ahead left. Ignore these routes and head straight
on onto a grassy path. Head along this path until you
get to a small cairn. At the cairn turn left. The path
is well trodden and easy to see. After a short
distance along this path you will see the Simonside
hills ahead of you and to the left. Follow the path
toward the hills. You will leave the path and head
onto a road. A short distance along this road and on
your right there is a track that heads up Simonside.
There is a small information board at the foot of this
path. Follow this difficult path to the summit of
Simonside. This path is steep, rocky and can be
slippery when wet. Good walking boots are essential.
The summit is marked by an ancient burial cairn. The
path at the top of Simonside has been repaired and is
clearly marked with flag stones. Follow the path to
Old Stell Crag. You will see the cairn marking Dove
Crag about 700m ahead of you. Follow the path to this.
Follow the path down. There is an
option to take the track directly back to the picnic
area. However, if you take a right the path will take
you to the cairn at the Beacon. Continue to follow the
path down to the road and Lordenshaws Car Park. At the
car park turn left and take to road back to the picnic
area some 1500m away. |
