Barrowburn
An easy circular walk suitable for most abilities, taking in the flower
rich hay meadows and passing the farm tea room on the way.
Points of interest:
Wedder Leap, a long deep pool in the River Coquet opposite the car
park has a folk tale associated with it... told by David Dippie Dixon
(born 1842), a local archaeologist, historian, and naturalist. In his
book Tale fromUpper Coquetdale (1903) “..the Wedder Loup...”
story goes that during mosstrooping days, a ‘lifter’ one night carried
off a nice plump ‘wedder’ from the flock grazing on a nearby hillside.
The daring sheep-stealer had not gone very far when the loss was
discovered and the owner and his men gave chase, but handicapped by the
wedder tied around his neck (hill fashion) the thief decided his only
chance of escape was to to leap the chasm over the River Coquet near
where the footbridge is today. His feet touched the opposite bank, but
the wedder around his neck proved a millstone and dragged him backwards
into the murky depths of the pool below and never to be seen again!
In June and July the hay meadows around Barrowburn come into
bloom.Traditionally managed by farmers to provide a crop to feed their
animals, these meadows have developed into a haven for wildflowers and
grasses such as cranesbill, eyebright, yellow rattle, buttercup, red
clover and knapweed.
These fields provide a valuable food source of pollen and nectar for a
number of insects, including bumblebees, moths and butterfly, which can
be seen around the hay meadows.The seeds are also sort after by
goldfinch, linnet and the nationally scarce twite. Also look out for
house martin and swallows flying around the farm.
Local facilities:
The family run Tea Room at Barrowburn Farm (with toilets for patrons only), is 450 metres west of Wedder Leap car park.
Nestling in the upper reaches of the Coquet Valley and surrounded by
the rolling Cheviot Hills the Tea Room provides a place to take the
weight off your feet, listen to the stream running past the front door
whilst refreshing yourself with a home-made snack and a hot or cold
drink.Why not treat the kids to a tub of local Doddington Ice Cream too!
Local information on the National Park and the surrounding area is available here too.
Accommodation is also available for 17 in Barrowburn Camping Barn, a
former school built in 1879. The Deer Hut alongside, originally the
headmasters house and then a base for deer stalking parties, today
provides self catering accommodation for up to four people.
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