On a frosty Saturday morning, we decided to hike up to see possibly the biggest rock in Northumberland. As boring as it sounds, we were blessed with clear blue skies and a fairly enjoyable walk!
Originally known as the Dragon Stone, the Drake Stone was reputedly used in druidic rituals and is said to possess healing powers. If you end up following the route we took, you reach the Stone very early on in the walk. Admittedly this is the best part of the walk, however do not be put off - you will still be exploring a lake, a meandering river, open moorland and even castle ruins!
The size of the rock is not appreciated until you are stood underneath it, and from here you are treated to some fantastic views of the surrounding Northumberland countryside. If, like us, you like to go off route sometimes, you can venture from the Stone across to the peak next to it. This has small route through the heather and again results in some great views over the lake and beyond, however if your dogs are small, they will get lost in the heather!
This walk is situated on the edge of the Otterburn ranges so you will see quite a few warning signs such as the one in the images below. These ranges are used for live ammo training, so if the red flag is flying, please be aware that there could be some bangs! The walk does not venture into any of the ranges so you will always be able to access the route.
After passing Harbottle lake, walking through fields of cows and finally back through the village of Harbottle, you will reach a car park for Harbottle Castle (Or at least what's left of it). I would recommend a quick detour to have an explore of the ruins as you pass.
I would say the walk is dog friendly for around two thirds of the length. The other third is through fields with livestock and along village roads. Although not the longest of walks, I definitely recommend a visit.
We completed a 9KM round route which can be followed using the below PDF!
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