The best running trails around Morpeth

It’s nice in spring with the fruit trees and flowers

Some nice shops in there.

The Chantry Footbridge replaced an older two-arch bridge from the 13th century. An iron footbridge was built on the site in 1869, and it was refurbished in 2004. The bridge connects Bridge Street with Hill Gate on the south side. At the north end of the footbridge is the 13th century All Saints Chantry, which was restored in 1980 and is now a tourist information center, craft center, and museum. Just upstream from the bridge is a weir.

The Telford Bridge replaced an older medieval bridge and connects the two halves of the town. It was designed by John Dobson, although Thomas Telford is often credited due to the inscription on the parapet. Telford chose the location and oversaw the construction. St George's United Reformed Church is located on the north side of the bridge, while the Court House is on the south side.

Morpeth Park was officially opened on September 11, 1929, following the completion of landscaping, formal gardens, cottages, and other enhancements. Subsequent additions included the pavilion in 1951 and the paddling pool in 1956. In 1972, Castle Morpeth borough received a floral clock as a gift, which now adorns the park's southeast area. The William Turner Garden, established in 1999, is a notable feature of the park. This garden, funded by a generous £2.1 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, includes an aviary and serves as a tribute to William Turner, a renowned herbalist born in Morpeth around 1508. Turner's contributions to documenting British flora are well-celebrated. Additionally, the eastern section of the park holds historical significance as Ha' Hill, the site of a former motte-and-bailey castle constructed by the de Merlay family in 1095.

The Bakehouse Steps in Morpeth hold a historical significance as an old crossing point, possibly one of several stepping stones in the area. These steps are made of concrete blocks, likely dating back to the 20th century, evenly spaced in the river bed. They connect High Stanners on the west bank to Newgate Street. After heavy rain, the river can flow swiftly, making the stepping stones hazardous to cross. Locally known as the Bakehouse Steps, they play a vital role in facilitating river crossings in Morpeth. Note there is no right of way on the other side.

The Morpeth Clock Tower, situated near Market Place in Morpeth, is an impressive structure with a height of 60 feet and walls measuring 3 feet 6 inches in thickness. Adjacent to the Morpeth Town Hall and the YMCA buildings, the tower is a Grade II* listed building. Constructed between 1604 and 1634, the Clock Tower boasts a weathered appearance due to its use of recycled Medieval stone. While it was believed that the stone originated from a gatehouse at the west end of Oldgate, it is more likely that it was sourced from the nearby ruins of Newminster Abbey, which was dissolved in 1537. In 1706, the tower acquired a set of six bells cast by renowned bell founder Richard Phelps from the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. These bells were originally intended for the Parish Church of Berwick-upon-Tweed but were presented to the Corporation of Morpeth by Major General Edmund Maine, MP of Morpeth, after the people of Berwick failed to elect Maine as their member of parliament. This led to the local saying, "Berwick Bells are heard in Morpeth." The bells were restored and placed in a new cast iron frame in 1951 by John Taylor & Co to commemorate the Festival of Britain, as they had fallen into disrepair over the years.

These woods and the steep sided Howburn valley once held coal mines, from as recent as the 1920s right back to Roman times. You can see some traces of the industry from the old bricks that are occasionally used to line the path. You might also see some acient 'bell mines' in the woods, pits that were dug and expanded out underground to dig out the coal seams. The large meadow on the left as you come back from the walk is called 'Pestilence Close' and supposedly the Morpeth inhabitants who died in the plague of 1665 are buried here. The Romano-British smetled iron in the valley, and traces of their works also exist. Hard to believe so much industry existed in what is now a green nature reserve. While not on the walk itself, the Victorian 'County Lunatic Asylum' existed where the new housing estate is now at the edge of the woods. A little further up, you might see what is left of the Morpeth racecourse, where horses were raced in the 1730s. The grandstand is long gone, but you can see traces of the oval track in the fields