Rothbury Riverside Walk, Picnic Spots & Playground

If you're looking for an easy dog and pushchair friendly family day out in North East England, I can highly recommend the Riverside Walk in Rothbury, Northumberland. Parking is FREE, there are public loos nearby, the river banks are filled with wildlife and there are lots of picnic tables and benches along the way plus a play park which is especially suited to toddlers and Under 7s.

Parking in Rothbury town centre is easy and free and the riverside walk is just 1 minute from the town centre. Alternatively, Cowhaugh car park and Beggars Rig car park are both along the river and a short walk into town (they're both free too).

The walk along the river bank is pushchair friendly and there's a fantastic enclosed playground just down from the town centre. I have lovely memories of bringing my own children here when they were tots and it looks ideal for under 7s. There are picnic benches inside the enclosed park and a couple just in front of the park too although there is no barrier between the benches outside of the park and the river so you need to be on high alert if your toddlers are the spritely kind and you choose to sit here.

The walk along the river is SO peaceful. I can't explain how beautiful it is to walk along, listening to the river flow, the birds sing and spot various flowers and wildlife along the way.

There are various seats and picnic tables along the river bank where you can stop and take in the beautiful views. You can even bring a BBQ here.

One of the best things about this walk is you can admire all of the gorgeous houses which line the route. I swear a few of them looked like they'd just stepped out of Grand Designs with their modern floor to ceiling windows making the most of those countryside views.

I'm pretty sure this is Hagrid's house.....

The route is not a circular one and it is around 1.49 miles in length in total but you can stop and turn around at any time. It's nice and easy for little ones but obviously, make sure they're supervised at all times.

You can get right down by the river under the main bridge into town and practice your stone skimming skills.

After our walk, we popped into Rothbury town centre where you'll find a handful of galleries and independent shops. I highly recommend paying Rothbury Butchers a visit - we bought a couple of lovely steaks from here and the service was so friendly.

I asked for recommendations for places to eat and every single person recommended Tomlinsons which overlooks the river on Bridge Street. I'd definitely advise a trip here for a drink or bite to eat. It was such good value and delicious too. You won't regret trying their sausages which were s o moreish.

Just like that, our morning in Rothbury was over. We had such a lovely day and if you're looking for an easy stroll in peaceful surroundings or somewhere to take the kids for a walk, play and picnic, Rothbury is a good bet. It's just up the road from Cragside too if you fancy combining the two.

Find out more:

• Parking in Rothbury
• Tomlinson's Cafe 
• Rothbury Butchers 
• Riverside Walk Route

If you enjoyed this post, why not check out these posts below:

• The Labyrinth at Cragside
• The Best Family Walks with Cafes and Play Parks
• How to Spend 48 Hours in Wooler
• 5 Reasons to Visit Alnmouth with Kids 

Let me know if you fancy a trip to Rothbury this year. 

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