Rothbury Race Course History
Horses would be loaded on to trains and travel via Newcastle Station to Brinkburn Station on the south side of the River Coquet, to be walked down the hill from West Raw and up to Cragend Farm, where they were stabled until their races at Rothbury Racecourse.
The river changes every year but it is still possible to see where they would have crossed, as the water is nearly always low, unless in flood (much like a Nile Cataract) below the farm, and the sides are not too steep for the horses to climb out.
We have had numerous recollections of this happening pre-1968 when the railway closed.
Find Out More About Cragend
Cragend Farm has a interesting and diverse history, from technical innovations to historic buildings. Tied in closely to the neighbouring Cragside Estate home of Victorian inventor and industrialist Lord Armstrong.
Wonderful Dog Friendly B&B and self catering cottage, Amazing unique historic site, (featured on TV: Matt Baker’s Travels with Mum & Dad North East)
Original Cragside Architecture and Machinery. Celtic Camp and Ducal Border Reiver settlement, remodelled by Victorian Lord Armstrong of Cragside as his show case for hydraulic machinery.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT in ABOUT US.