HPB Lucker Hall: Norham - River, Church & Castle

Today the peaceful River Tweed, forming the boundary between England and Scotland, is renowned as a major salmon fishing area. The Parish Church of St Cuthbert, formerly an outpost of the Prince Bishops of Durham, is of “princely” proportions and usually open daily.

There are two inns, a village store, a bakery and a noted family butcher’s shop which is more like a delicatessen. While the OS map and several guidebooks show extensive riverside walks, the reality is that landslips, erosion, and neglect have made several sections impassable, other than for the most adventurous. Therefore, we have confined ourselves to a shorter stroll through farmland, tree-lined paths and a pleasant riverside stretch which we hope will encourage bondholders to come to Norham.


1. The walk starts opposite the village green and cross, at the information panels on the side of the village hall, at the beginning of Castle Street. Walk a few metres to the T-junction, with the ornate clock on your right. Turn left and continue ahead for about 500m. Cross the road at the fingerpost on the right, “Newbiggin Dene ¾“.

2. Proceed along the field edge on the broad (vehicular) track. The track narrows and at the top of the rise you have splendid views. After descending gradually, follow the hedge on you left as the path bears right then left around the edge of the field. As you approach the bottom left-hand corner of the field, leave the field at a fingerpost, “Newbiggin ¾ “.

3. Walk 10m to a further fingerpost indicating “East Newbiggin ¼“ to the left. However, you need to turn right. Follow the path for 25m and go over the stile signed, “West Newbiggin ¾“. Follow the path with the tree-lined dene below. You pass beneath the former railway bridge. The path bends around a more open area. Ignore the path off to the right and instead bear left. The path soon leads through the trees. This can be slippery after rain. You descend with the help of some conveniently placed steps to a waymark post. Bear right and after about 125m you come to a waymark post.

4. The River Tweed is now visible through the trees. From the waymark post, continue ahead through a gateway. Now you can begin to appreciate the broad river which is such an attraction for salmon fishing. The path leads through a gate and passes some pleasant properties.

5. You join an access road after going through another gate near the property, “The Columns”. Continue along the road as you lose sight of the river for a while. After about 500m, near the bottom of a rise, with a corrugated farm building on your right, look out for a gate and a half-hidden fingerpost on the left, “Ladykirk Bridge ½; Norham 1¼”.


6. Go through the gate and follow the clear path to a waymarked stile on the right. Cross the stile, turn left and follow the field edge. Norham and Ladykirk Bridge comes into view. Provided the river is not in flood, you can cross the stile and follow the path beneath the bridge. (Otherwise climb the steps, cross the road and descend further steps to rejoin the path).Now proceed along the pleasant riverside path. In fact there are two parallel paths! After the paths converge, you pass the remains of a wooden gate on your left. Continue ahead until you reach some overhead power lines where you leave the riverside.

7. Turn right to follow the power lines. Climb up the steps and follow the hedge-lined path into the churchyard. Bear left and walk around the side of St Cuthbert’s Church. Turn right to visit this historic church. However, turn left to continue the walk. Proceed along the surfaced path to exit through the graveyard. You arrive at the 1914-18 war memorial on Pedwell Way. The village green lies to the right, should you wish to return there now.

8. However, to continue the walk to the castle, turn left and then immediately right to walk along a lane (North Lane) between the properties. Just as the lane bends to the right, go through a small gate on your left.

9. Turn immediately right into a playing field. Cross diagonally left to go through another gate in the corner. Turn left and follow the path a short distance. Bear right, go down the steps, cross the small footbridge and climb up the steps into a field. Walk ahead, with the river on your left, until you are about 50m from the trees. Look out for a faint path on your right. Turn right and follow the path as it climbs up to a kissing gate. Go through the gate to meet the road.
10. Turn left to Norham Castle. Even if it is closed you can still admire its grandeur through the west gate. To complete the walk, follow the road downhill back into Norham and the village green. 

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