🥾 Walking route
Nelly's Moss Lakes Walk, Cragside Estate
Northumberland
- 📏 2.1 km · 1.3 mi
- ⛰ +43 m
- ⏱ 30 min
- 🐕 On lead
Walk stats
- Distance2.1 km · 1.3 mi
- Elevation+43 m
- Duration30 min
- DifficultyEasy
- Route typeCircular
- TerrainLevel lakeside paths and gentle woodland tracks
- Best seasonSpring to autumn, with vivid colour in October
- DogsDogs welcome on leads
About this walk
This gentle circular walk on the Cragside Estate loops around the twin Nelly's Moss lakes, tucked into the wooded uplands above Rothbury in Northumberland. Starting and finishing near Rothbury, the route takes in both Nelly's Moss South and Nelly's Moss North, with calm water, reflections of surrounding trees, and easy walking throughout its 2.1 km length.
The path skirts the lake edges, offering open views across the water and glimpses of the wider Cragside landscape. It's a short outing, around half an hour at a steady pace, with only 43 metres of ascent, making it well suited to families or anyone looking for a relaxed stroll rather than a strenuous hike.
Nearby on the estate you can extend your visit with a wander past The Tarn and Basin Tank, or pause at points of interest such as The Still Room, Turtle Music, and Fawn. Together they make the lakes walk an easy centrepiece for a longer, unhurried day exploring Cragside.
Route map
Route line drawn from OpenStreetMap footpath data. Numbered markers are waypoints on the route; amber star markers are points of interest a short detour away.
Waypoints along the route
3 waypoints along the way
- 1
Rothbury (start and finish)
- Start / finish
Start and finish of this circular route.
- 2
Nelly's Moss (South)
- 3
Nelly's Moss (North)
Worth a short detour
Points of interest just off the route, look for the amber markers on the map.
The Tarn
~346 m off the route
Basin Tank
~369 m off the route
The Still Room
~484 m off the route
Turtle Music
~191 m off the route
Fawn
~193 m off the route
Route & waypoint data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).