Allen Banks & Staward Gorge: Walking Guide

Seven miles south-west of Hexham, tucked into a deep valley carved by the River Allen, Allen Banks and Staward Gorge is one of the most rewarding natural sites in Northumberland. Managed by the National Trust, this 250-hectare site contains the largest area of ancient semi-natural woodland in Northumberland, a medieval pele tower, a restored Victorian summerhouse, and wildlife that includes red squirrels, otters, and dormice.

Getting There

The site is near Bardon Mill, off the A69. Follow the brown National Trust signs. By public transport, Bardon Mill railway station is 1.6 miles from the entrance.

Car park: Pay and display — £3 for 4 hours, £5 all day. National Trust members scan their card. Note: the access road has a 3.3-metre height restriction.

History

The woodland was substantially shaped in the 19th century by Susan Davidson, who created an ornamental landscape with beech avenues, a tarn, summer houses, and the network of paths that define the site today. Her restored Cedar Hut summerhouse is still a highlight.

At the gorge's most dramatic point stands Staward Peel, the ruin of a 14th-century pele tower on a promontory above the River Allen — a defensive structure from the Border Reivers era.

Walking Routes

Purple Route — 1.5 miles | 45-60 minutes

The shortest and most accessible route follows the riverbank through open woodland. Good for families with young children.

Orange Route — 2 miles | 60-75 minutes

Includes the restored Victorian Cedar Hut and Moralee Tarn — an ornamental pond created in the 1800s. Some steep sections.

Brown Route — 3 miles | 90 minutes-2 hours

The main circuit combining riverside woodland, the tarn, and viewpoints over the gorge. Expect varied terrain.

Full Circuit — 5.8 miles | 3-4 hours

Takes in all highlights plus Staward Peel and the deeper gorge sections. Sturdy footwear essential.

Wildlife

Allen Banks is one of the best places in Northumberland to see red squirrels. Look for them in the canopy along the main woodland paths, particularly in the mornings.

Otters use the River Allen, though they are shy and most often glimpsed at dawn or dusk. More than 70 species of birds have been recorded, from treecreepers and nuthatches to all three British woodpecker species.

Spring brings a carpet of wild garlic across the woodland floor. Autumn transforms the beech avenues into a gallery of gold and copper.

Facilities

• Toilets at the car park (including accessible)
• Dogs welcome on leads
• No cafe on site — nearest in Bardon Mill village or Hexham
• Free to enter; car parking charges apply