X14, Newcastle to Cragside & Thropton

Journey Overview

The bus leaves the bustle of Newcastle’s Haymarket, weaving through the city’s mix of architectural brilliance, transcending different eras. Cultural magnificence, nocturnal delights and shopping paradise, there’s something for everyone and it can be seen in all its glory as the bus makes it way.  Baroque, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Jacobean, Brutalism and Modernism, soak it all in with every stop that passes before the bus arrives in Gosforth to the north of the City and the clean lines of Gosforth’s Regent Centre Interchange. Here, streets are lined with Victorian terraces, red-brick semis, and smart trees standing in neat rows. One of our favourite places in Gosforth is the cricket game which hosts the occasional Durham County Cricket Club fixture. Soon, the road opens out, and the cityscape fades into countryside.

By the time you reach Morpeth Bus Station, the town’s charm takes over—Georgian facades, stone bridges over the River Wansbeck, and market bustle give a lively pause before the bus rolls deeper into Northumberland. Past Morpeth, the view shifts dramatically. Open farmland stretches for miles, stitched together with hedgerows and stone walls. You pass sheep grazing on sloped meadows and tractors carving slow arcs across fields.

At Longhorsley Whitegates, the road dips through woodland and hedged lanes, before climbing again into Longframlington, where stone cottages line the streets and hills begin to rise in the distance. The moorland becomes more rugged, the air clearer, the sky bigger. Trees grow gnarled and windswept. Near Cragside House, the road curves into a lush, green wooded valley—dense with towering trees, ferns, and the odd glimpse of the magnificent Victorian estate that once pioneered hydroelectric power. The forested air feels enchanted.

Then the bus descends into Rothbury, a picturesque village nestled beside the River Coquet. Opposite the Queens Head, the river glimmers under arched stone bridges, with walkers and cyclists dotting the green banks. Stone houses climb gently up the valley sides.

Finally, approaching Thropton, the landscape turns wilder still. The hills rise around you, purpled with heather and bracken. Outside the Three Wheat Heads, the view is magnificent—broad skies, rugged slopes, and the feeling that you’ve reached the edge of somewhere vast and ancient.

This really is a fab scenic sojourn, where the pulsating dynamism and architectural magnificence of central Newcastle recedes with every stop on the journey as small villages emerge and the countryside becomes consistently eye-catching but the view from the window more remote.

A Fab Day Out!

Start your day in Newcastle at the bustling Haymarket, grabbing a coffee near the university before strolling through the Georgian elegance of Grey Street and exploring the vibrant Grainger Market. Pop into the Laing Art Gallery or enjoy a riverside walk along the Quayside, perhaps catching the Gateshead Millennium Bridge tilt. After soaking up the city’s energy, hop on the bus and head north to Gosforth. Here, take a short wander through Gosforth Central Park or browse the independent shops and bakeries lining the high street. It’s a quiet, leafy contrast to the city centre.

Back on the bus, ride through the countryside to Morpeth, a historic market town set on the River Wansbeck. You can stretch your legs in Carlisle Park, with its floral clock and riverside paths, or visit the stately Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum for something unusual. Grab lunch from one of the town’s cosy cafés before continuing your journey. The Old Bakehouse in Newgate Street is highly recommended so too is Cafe Vault, a lovely cosy setting, that’s just the ticket before getting back on board the bus.

As you head further north, the scenery grows more dramatic. Arriving in Rothbury, nestled in the Coquet Valley, you’ll find the perfect mix of charm and rugged beauty. Spend the afternoon exploring Cragside, the innovative former home of Lord Armstrong, set in vast woodland and gardens. If time is tight, simply enjoy a riverside walk, browse local art shops, or savour tea and cake in one of the tearooms.

Your final stop is Thropton, a peaceful hamlet just a few minutes and only 2 miles to the west, beyond Rothbury. Here, end your day with a drink or dinner outside the Three Wheat Heads Inn, looking out over the moors and Simonside Hills. The stillness and wide skies offer the perfect finish—a breath of fresh air and countryside calm before heading back, your day full of history, nature, and quiet discovery. There’s also fantastic walks aplenty to be enjoyed here, all against the backdrop of the dramatic scenery of Hotbank Crags and Crag Lough. If you’re enjoying yourself so much and have brought your tent and all-weather clothes, then check out the m any campsites in the area, before getting the bus back the next day!