Route from Yorkshire (Keld) to Edinburgh

If I wanted a scenic drive I’d head up through the north Pennines. Something like Keld > Reeth > Bowes > Barnard Castle > Middleton in Teesdale > Alston > Once Brewed > Otterburn > Jedburgh > Melrose > Edinburgh.

A nice place to stay overnight is https://www.battlesteads.com/ near Wark (rhymes with bark).

Hi Caitlin -

Here’s one way of doing it! From Keld (as there’s almost nothing at Keld I’m assuming you are possibly doing part of the Coast to Coast route? - stayed in Keld last year and most were doing some or all of the C2C) head north up the back road to Tan Hill and England’s highest pub, turn left and follow the road to Brough. Continue heading north east to Middleton in Teesdale and at Middleton turn north west for Alston. From Alston head for Haltwhistle - choice of route here but direct route heads north up Knarsdale turning off up back roads to Haltwhistle via Rowfoot and Park. You will have been driving largely through, remote, some might say bleak, country, roughly following and intersecting with the Pennine Way long distance trail.

Haltwhistle is a good base for Hadrians Wall, but for an overnight stop I would recommend trying the Twice Brewed pub a little to the north and east of Haltwhistle near the hamlet of Once Brewed. Not as much choice - rooms, restaurant, bar (brewery attached!) - but the very best of Hadrian’s Wall is a twenty minute walk (uphill unfortunately!) from the pub. If you don’t fancy the short walk, then drive up to the car park at, if memory serves, Steel Rigg. Close by are Vindolanda (museum and Roman ruins) and Housesteads (remains of large Roman fort).

On heading towards Edinburgh follow the B6318 loosely following the wall or drop back through Haltwhistle to pick up the A69, both roads heading east to pick up the A68 near Corbridge. Follow the A68 all the way through to Edinburgh passing through Jedburgh and Melrose.

As I said, one way of doing it and the first part to Haltwhistle is off the major roads, so you should be able to drive a bit slower and gawp! Have a great trip!

Ian

I see ramblin’ on and myself concur!

Thank you so much!!