Darden Rigg

Rising above the Coquet Valley near Bickerton, this heather-clad moorland hill offers a quieter alternative to the popular Simonside Crags. Part of the Simonside range, its broad, often boggy plateau provides a rugged sense of isolation and expansive views across the Northumberland National Park towards the distant Cheviots to the north.

• •The name ‘Rigg’ stems from the Old Norse hryggr, meaning a ridge or spine, a fitting description for this elongated moorland shoulder that overlooks the lower Coquetdale landscape.
• •On the southern slopes lies Darden Lough, a quiet upland pool surrounded by peat bog that serves as a stark, glassy contrast to the surrounding rough heather and sandstone outcrops.
• •The summit provides a clear vantage point for identifying the major peaks of the Cheviot Hills, with the distinctive rounded domes of The Cheviot and Hedgehope Hill visible on the northern horizon.
• •While the elevation is modest, the local peat hags have a long-standing reputation for testing the waterproof integrity of even the most seasoned walker's boots.