This break started 2 days after the big floods, so some trains were in the wrong places which delayed train journeys - but we all got there!

On the first day, early evening after we'd settled in, we all sat and chatted in the bar at our accommodation - the Queens Head Hotel in Rothbury.

WW had reserved a table so that we could eat at the hotel that night - lots of getting to know each other - however most of us were tired and headed to bed fairly early.

Breakfast in the hotel's breakfast room upstairs, very civilised!

The weather was good - but with a worse forecast for later in the week, we decided to tackle Simonside today despite it being only the first day.

The walk took us steadily up onto Simonside - via lanes, fields, woods, and rocky paths bordered by heather.

The views from the top were wonderful - 360 degrees. They made the 'uphill' worthwhile!

We sat on the big rock at the top, having lunch looking down into Coquedale, then steadily made our way down over Garleigh Moor, and so to Rothbury.

The expenditure of energy naturally required a visit to one of Rothbury's tea rooms when we got back!

We walked to Holystone then Harbottle Lake today.

The forecast rain held off as we drove to Holystone, stopping to admire the local llamas!

A short detour took us to The Lady's Well - a reference to the good ladies in the 12th century Priory of Augustinian Nuns.

A beautiful woodland walk led us to the village of Harbottle, home of the remains of Harbottle Castle perched on the nearby hill.

After a break at the local hostelry, we continued the walk to ascend Drake Stone & enjoyed a sunny lunch stop while overlooking Harbottle.

Passing Harbottle Lake & traversing some rathe boggy ground (!), we ascended Cold Law before re-entering Forestry Commission woodland.

A majestic line of aged beech trees guided us downhill to the road leading back to the car park.

Undaunted by the mist & low cloud, we set off briskly & soon ascended Garleigh Moor.

We made a a few circuits of the hillfort and found the ancient Cup and Ring marked rocks.

From here we traversed the south side of the Simonside hills - tramping through tall, wet grass!

The circular stone sheepfold was a welcome, albeit basic lunch shelter.

Quiet lanes & tracks brought us to a ford where a cake stop was in order before boldly crossing the woodland stream (I did it no less than six times!)

Despite wet feet (the guide especially!) we continued towards Rothbury ultimately walking along a disused railway line which ran parallel to the river Coquet below.

For our last day we had saved the Rothbury Terraces.

Meandering uphill through the northern slopes of Rothbury we entered Lord Armstrongs estate and followed the carriage drives through the beech woods keeping a lookout for red squirrels on the way.

The woods gave way to open heather moorland which afforded magnificent vistas encompassing Simonside & the Cheviots.

The rocky outcrops made ideal picnic tables & as we made our way back, one final stream crossing had to be recorded on film!

After freshening up at the hotel, tea & cake preceded the homeward journey.