From the car park take the routesigned ‘Landshot/Whiskershiel/Eastnook/Hudspeth’ through the metal gate and up the tarmac road.

At the junction follow the sign toLandshot, and continue on along the tarmacroad past the farmhouse and shepherd’scottage to your left.

Immediately before the third cattlegrid turn right and follow the path signed‘East Todholes’. Go over the sleeper bridge,through the wicket gate and follow thepath round to the wall. On reaching thewall turn right and make your way up tothe gap in the fence, keeping the wall onyour left. Once through the gap continuefollowing the wall to the end of the field.

Cross the ladder stile in the cornerover the wall and continue up throughthis field, heading for the telegraph poleto the right of the big shed. On reachingthe telegraph pole at the corner of thegarden wall, continue to the ladder stileahead, keeping the wall on your left.

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Once over the ladder stile turn rightonto the farm track, carry on along thistrack past West Todholes until you reachthe main road.

At the main road turn right, signedElsdon, cross the step stile and bear leftacross the field to the fence. On reachingthe fence continue down to the next stepstile, once over the stile carry on down to the bottom of this field. During thesummer months take care through this field as it is an important hay field.

Cross the third step stile and turnright down to the sleeper bridge, turn leftonce over the bridge and follow the pathround to the smaller bridge. Once overthis smaller bridge make your way to thefootbridge next to the sewage works.

On crossing this bridge turn rightthrough the metal gate, and continueahead between the houses. At the pinfoldturn right and follow the road back to thecar park.

This publication includes mapping data licensedfrom Ordnance Survey © Crown Copyright and/ordatabase right 2010. Licence number 100022521.

Grade: Easy Distance: 2.6 miles (4.3 km) Time: 2 hours Map: OS OL42 1:25000 Kielder Water & ForestElsdon and the Todholes Walk

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Start OS Grid Ref: NY 937 933 Parking: North end of Elsdon by the bridge

Nearest National Park Information Point: Elsdon - Impromptu Tea Room

Nearest National Park Centre and Local Services: Rothbury

Terrain: Tarmac roads and footpaths

Description: An easy circular walk suitable for most abilities with great views of Elsdon

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Please use an OS map on this walk

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Elsdon and the Todholes Walk

NP

This publication includes mapping data licensed from Ordnance Survey © Crown Copyright and/or database right 2010. Licence number 100022521. Near Elsdon

Local facilitiesFood and accommodation are available inElsdon.The former school house in Elsdonis home to the Impromptu Tea Room andNational Park Information Point, which provides welcome refreshments to many visitors. The building dates back to the early 1700s and customers can enjoy the wonderful views across the village of Elsdon and surrounding area. The Bird inBush Inn serves a range of ales and goodfood. The Coach House Tea Room and GiftShop offers a range of traditional refresh-ments ranging from home made tray bakesto soup and sandwiches.

The Otterburn RangesMuch of the land to the north west ofElsdon is owned by the Ministry of Defence(MOD). The Otterburn Ranges are one ofEngland’s remotest upland areas and havebeen used for military training since 1911.The 90 square miles of Range provide arealistic environment for training more than300,000 NATO troops every year. For further information:www.otterburnranges.co.uk

WildlifeFlower-rich haymeadows providea blaze of colour inhigh summer and are a haven for wildlife.Upland hay meadows are internationallyrare and Northumberland National Parkhas some of the best in Europe. RecentlyNational Park officers have been workingwith landowners to return to traditionalmanagement regimes that will hopefullybring back the flowers for future generationsto enjoy. Hay meadows in the NationalPark contain species such as woodcranesbill and yellow rattle.

The moors around Elsdon are a goodplace to see and hear the curlew, which isBritain’s largest wading bird and is used asthe logo for Northumberland NationalPark. Unfortunately the curlew is now ararer site than it was previously. They returnin spring to breed, with the majority beingfound on the edge of the inbye and moor-land. Be careful where you put your feet!

The hedges and rough grass land aroundthis area is also an ideal habitat for barnowls. Since the 1950’s the barn owl population has suffered from the loss ofnatural sites. For the last 3 years theNational Park has been working withfarmers and landowners in this area tostop this decline by installing nest box.

Points of interestThe pattern of medieval rig and furrowcultivation is visible on the hillside aroundLandshot. The fields, called landshots, werenot enclosed by hedges, walls or fencesbut each was separated from the next bya strip of unploughed land known as aheadland. The fact that cultivation was taking place so far up the hill suggest thatthe climate in medieval times must havebeen more favourable than it is now.The earliest reference to ‘Landshot’ is in a 1528 document, when it was farmed by Robert Hedley and his sons, John andWilliam. At that time a system called‘gavelkind’ was in operation; when a manbecame too old to farm he divided thefarm between his sons. In this way farmsbecame smaller.

Todholes, like all the other farmsteads in this valley, is also mentioned in 16th century documents. Tod, meaning fox, is probably an Anglo-Saxon word and its frequent use in place names is evidencethat foxes were as widespread then asthey are now.

Getting thereHeading south on the A68 from Carter Bar:Turn left onto the A696 (signed ‘Newcastle’)just past Otterburn. Turn left onto theB6341 to Elsdon. the car park is throughthe village on the right.

Heading north on the A696 from Belsay:Turn left onto the B6341 (signed ‘Elsdon’).The car park is through the village on theright.

From Rothbury: Follow the B6341 west to Elsdon. The car park is on the left as youcome into the village.

Public TransportContact Traveline T: 08706 082608

All photographs ©: Justine Lester, Keith Weeks, NNPA

Barn owl

Elsdon

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