Thursday. It was a fine day in Rothbury as women started to arrive mid afternoon at our accommodation in the Queen's Head Hotel.

Some women travelling by train had been stranded in Newcastle as the overhead electric lines had failed. However they all managed to make the journey by bus in good time to have a wander around Rothbury before our meeting in the residents' lounge.

After dinner at the Queen's Head some women went off for an evening stroll and others headed off to bed for an early night.

Friday. For our first walk we headed North, ascending onto the Rothbury Terraces. Here the Armstrong family from nearby Cragside House built green carriage drives up onto the moors. (Cragside is now a National Trust property).

Crossing the moor we were surrounded by absolutely beautiful purple heather in full flower.

We made our way into the woods passing isolated Primrose Cottage with rows of beehives hidden in the bracken.

We paused for a water stop and to admire the view.

Passing more heather honey beehives we headed in the direction of South Cartington, catching glimpses of the ruins of Cartington castle.

We enjoyed lunch on a little knoll above the terraces, with fabulous views to the north of the Cheviot Hills.

We began the descent towards the village of Thropton with the Simonside hills ahead of us, and the meandering river Coquet coming into view.

At Thropton, we had a welcome drink at the pub before heading up Physic Lane with more great views to the north.

Back on the terraces, we followed the contour around Ship Crag, pondering how it came by that name.

Then finally we made our way down through the bracken, back into Rothbury for a visit to a tea shop.

Saturday. For our second day's walking we drove a very short way west out to Hepple to start our walk to Holystone and Lady's Well.

We set off along the Border County Ride North, pausing to admire the ingenuity of a gate that you just drive over and it springs back into place!

We strode out across the fields with the river Coquet meandering below us.

We passed small 'shelter belt' conifer plantations with buzzards screeching and wheeling overhead.

We stopped for a water break by the river, one of us jumping up rather smartly as she realised she was sitting on an anthill! Later we were joined by some cows.

It was then time to make our way across the bridge into the peaceful village of Holystone - once a thriving community and home to a priory of Augustinian nuns.

Regretfully, the Salmon Inn no longer opens its doors to passing walkers, the only source of refreshment now being St Mungo's Well!

Going briefly into Holystone Forest we then crossed a field to Lady's Well, where it is said 3000 people were baptised by St Paulinus. The little stream running from the well was host to beautiful Mimulus flowers and watercress beds.

Lady's Well is a beautiful, tranquil spot and made an ideal setting for lunch.

Making our way across the fields we joined the road, passing this small herd of shy Alpaca.

With the Coquet wending its way below once more we then passed through the hamlet of Farnham before making our way back down to Hepple with views of the heather covered Simonside Hills to the South.

While most of the group went off to sample the tearooms of Rothbury again, two of us went to Cragside.

We were just in time to visit the house and the tearoom and to explore the Labyrinth in the grounds before heading back to get ready for dinner at the Three Wheat Heads in Thropton..

Sunday. Walking out of Rothbury to the peal of the church bells, we headed west along the river and over the plain.

We crossed Lady's Bridge, first built to enable women to cross safely to the woollen mills beyond.

We passed through the pretty hamlet of Great Tosson, pausing to look at the remains of the peel tower, built to defend the locals from Scottish raiders.

Making our way up through the fields we made a detour to have a short break and take in the views from the site of an Iron Age hill fort at Burgh Hill.

We now entered the forest, following the trail, with another detour, this time to Little Church Rock and Cave.

Whilst some women posed for photos others picked the blaeberries (blue berries) growing abundantly in this area.

Leaving the woods it was time to make our way up Simonside, the steepest ascent of our holiday.

We all agreed it was well worth the effort and it was definitely time for lunch and a rest by the time we reached the top.

We made our way along the ridge, Dove crag on our left, with its wonderful rock formations and the sea far away to our right.

The rain came briefly as we started our long descent to Lordenshaw.

On Garleigh Moor we searched amongst the tall bracken for the large rocks carved with mysterious cup and ring marks thought to date back to the Bronze Age.

Then it was time to head back into Rothbury, some women making it in time to catch the tea shops, others of us going at a more leisurely pace!

As this was our last night we had booked a table at the Italian restaurant in the Coquetvale Hotel.

The evening ended with a demonstration of how to cure hiccups!

Monday. Several women had trains to catch, and others had long car journeys, so we planned to be back in Rothbury by 1.00 pm to have our lunch by the river.

We headed east out of Rothbury along Mill Lane, with views of Cragside nestling in the trees.

Our easy walk became an intrepid expedition as we hacked our way through tall bracken and nettles! It was one of those times when the guide just has to go first!

The going became a bit easier as we skirted the river bank for a short while before heading up a boggy path and out of the woods into the fields.

We passed a derelict farm before joining the disused railway line.

We had a short break before heading back to Rothbury, crossing the river via the stepping stones.

We enjoyed our last lunch together before saying our final farewells.