Three independent routes cross the highland of Longframlington Common and Rimside Moor west of the deep valley of Millstone Cleuch heading north to Wooler. The Roman road known as the Devil's Causeway took a line intermediate between the main A697 to the east and the old stage coach road, shown here, much higher up the hill to the west. This road was the section between Longframlington and Powburn of the Morpeth to Breamish Turnpike created in 1752.
The clump of trees to the right are close to the site of the former Moorhouse Inn
NU1005 : Beech Plantation from the site of the former Moorhouse Inn.
The old coach road seems nicely graded and avoids much of the wetter ground but the height gained in its traverse was always a difficulty. From its summit, below Lamb Hill, it descends gradually past the site of the old inn to join the current main road at New Moor House at the crossroads with the Rothbury to Alnwick road. The Morpeth to Breamish Turnpike was bypassed to the east in 1831.
Rimside Moor, the bleak heathery upland extending south-west as far as Rothbury, had a certain reputation among travellers and local people. The saying, 'As wide as Rimside Moor' expressed its extent and bleakness'. Other sayings didn't recommend being there during the hours of darkness (The local historian's table book: of remarkable occurrences, ...: 1846, Volume 8, Page 34).
Rimside Moor was 'wind-swept, snow-piled, infested with spectres and malevolent dangers, it was an ordeal for travellers...'
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