There are few things better at the end of a long walk than discovering you've conveniently finished within a stones throw of a pub.
The Rose & Thistle in Alwinton is perfectly placed for walks heading out along Clennell Street and into the southern end of the Cheviots, so when I've eventually wandered back into the village with tired legs, it would frankly be rude to walk straight past.
Unfortunately I'm normally driving home, so there's no celebratory pint waiting for me. A large lime cordial and a packet of peanuts might not quite have the same romance about it, but after a few hours on the hills it does the job.
A proper country pub
The Rose & Thistle is exactly the sort of place you hope to find when you wander back into a little village like Alwinton. It's a traditional country inn with a welcoming bar, a wide range of drinks and cask ales, plus proper food cooked using locally sourced ingredients.
So while my visits have generally involved sitting down (well slumped usually) with a drink and giving my legs a rest, you can make considerably more of it than I normally do. There's a full bar and restaurant if you've worked up an appetite, making it a cracking place to finish a day exploring this end of the Cheviots.
And if you're not the poor sod who has to drive everyone home, you can completely ignore my lime cordial strategy and investigate those cask ales instead.
You don't even have to go home
The Rose & Thistle also has its own bed and breakfast, with quiet, spacious rooms if you fancy making Alwinton your base for a few days. There's also Red Lion House, their self-catering accommodation for families and larger groups.
That makes the location particularly handy if you fancy a multi-day hike. Alwinton sits in the south-eastern foothills of the Cheviots where the Alwin and Coquet valleys meet, with walks heading straight out from the village into the surrounding hills.
For me though, the Rose & Thistle remains a welcome sight at the end of a walk. Boots muddy. Legs knackered. Pint of lime and a packet of peanuts.
