Hulne Park – Feb 2023

£15.00

Date: Sunday 12 February 2023
Start time: 11.00 am (PLEASE NOTE THE DIFFERENT START TIME)
Distance: 8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate (due to distance and small hills)

Event Expired

Description

Hulne Park

Hulne Park was once the Percy family’s walled hunting ground and hunting still takes place today.  At the entrance there is an arched gateway and lodge.  There is an opportunity to shorten this walk if needed.

HulnePark - Outside-hulne-park Hulne Park

Details

Hills: General - AscentKey1-98x27 Some hills
Distance: General - DistanceKey1-98x27 Medium distance
Grade: General - GradeKey2-98x27 Moderate (distance and hills)
Map: General - 332-AlnwickAmble-Map-thumb
This walk is on map 332 Alnwick & Amble. Click on map image to buy this map.
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The Start

We will start the walk at the entrance to Hulne Park on Ratten Row.  This is the road which leads up to Hulne Park in Alnwick.

As there are still people living inside the Park we are unable to start this walk until 11 am.  Sorry Juno  you aren’t allowed on this walk as dogs are not allowed in the grounds.

From the gateway, we will walk along the main drive past the Deer Park, if we are very lucky we may spot some deer or red squirrels.

We will leave the main drive and walk along Tower Drive where we will walk through a forest before getting our first view of Brizlee Tower.

Brizlee Tower

Brizlee (or Brislee) Tower is a Grade 1 listed folly.  Robert Adam designed this tower in the late 1700s.  The tower is 26 metres high and is at the edge of the northern escarpment of Brizlee Hill and overlooks the rivers that flow through the Park.

HulnePark - HulnePark-Brizlee-tower Hulne Park

Percy family cemetery

The Percy family have a private burial ground in a walled enclosure.  The burial ground was consecrated in 2013.  At the entrance it has an amazing pair of wrought iron gates, by Stephen Lunn.  This blacksmith also created the gates at Alnwick Gardens. 

HulnePark - HulnePark-gates Hulne Park

The Stone Seat

There is a horizontal stone opposite the walled enclosure.  Many believe that this is a seat, as it was the old Duchess’ favourite view looking out over the Aln Valley.  The view here is spectacular.

HulnePark - HulnePark-stone-seat Hulne Park

Hermit’s Cave

About half a mile from the Percy Cemetery, we pass a statue of a monk.  The statue is Grade-II-listed, probably 18th-century, statue of a White Friar.  It is possible that this statue is from Hulne Priory.  The monk is standing guard over a cave called the Nine Year Aud Hole.  Legend says that a hermit once lived in this cave.

HulnePark - HulnePark-monk-at-hermit_s-cave Hulne Park

Hulne Priory

We will return back to the main drive but instead of returning back to the cars we will pass Brizlee Farm and cross the Iron Bridge before reaching Hulne Priory. 

HulnePark - HulnePark-abbey Hulne Park

After exploring Hulne Priory we will follow a riverside track before once again crossing the River Aln, this time over the Filbert Haugh Bridge.

We will pass the Duchess’ bridge and return back to the entrance on Ratten Row, having enjoyed the beautiful Hulne Park.

Grannie’s Tearoom

After the walk we will be visiting our favourite tearoom in Alnwick, Grannies Tearoom.

Julie and Martin x

Gallery


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Location

This shows the start location for this walk.

Nearest postcode: NE66 3HX
OS Grid Reference: NU 17978 13692
What3Words: ///envelope.originate.rewriting
Meet: Entrance to Hulne Park at Western end of Ratten Row.
Toilets: The nearest toilets are in Alnwick Market Square.
Parking: Ratten Row street parking.  This is situated on the way to Hulne Park.  Parking is free all day.