Corbridge
Corbridge is a village in the Tyne valley of Northumberland, 16 miles west of Newcastle and 4 miles east of Hexham. It's an attractive small place and the main reasons to visit are to see the Roman town of Coria, and to explore Hadrian's Wall further north. In 2021, Corbridge had a population of 2888.
Get in
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Newcastle Airport (NCL IATA) is at Ponteland 20 miles northeast: take the Metro to city centre for buses and trains to Corbridge. In 2023 a taxi might be £45.
Trains run hourly from Newcastle upon Tyne, taking 35 min via Metrocentre and Prudhoe, and continuing west to Hexham. These trains usually start from Nunthorpe near Middlesbrough. The Morpeth-Newcastle-Carlisle trains seldom stop here. Change at Newcastle for London Kings Cross, Leeds, York and Edinburgh.
The 1 railway station is half a mile south of town centre. It's a simple platform halt with ticket machines but no other facilities. There's a ramp to the Newcastle-bound platform. The footbridge is broken in 2023, so everyone reaches the Hexham-bound platform via the southside car park.
Tynedale Bus X84 / 85 runs from Newcastle Eldon Square M-Sa every 30 min, taking 50 min via Denton, Throckley, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Wylam and Ovington, and continuing to Hexham. There's only two on Sunday.
Go North East Bus 10 runs from Newcastle Eldon Square via the railway station, Metro Centre, Blaydon, Prudhoe and Riding Mill, taking 70 min to Corbridge and another ten to Hexham. It's every 30 min M-Sa and hourly on Sunday.
There's no bus station, buses make several stops along the main street.
Corbridge is 16 miles west of Newcastle upon Tyne and 4 miles east of Hexham. It lies just off the A69 Newcastle to Carlisle road, a fast dual carriageway. This crosses coast-to-coast at low altitude, so it stays open when other routes such as A66 are blocked. It's not motorway and cyclists may use it, but they will feel safer using loops of the former main road.
A68 is a scenic and fairly fast route from Darlington to Corbridge, where it joins A69 for a couple of miles before continuing north to Jedburgh and Edinburgh. It follows the straight line of the Roman road Dere Street, with switchback progress up hill down dale, punctuated by blind crests and occasional tight bends.
Get around
[edit]The town is compact and walkable. You need wheels for Aydon Castle and Hadrian's Wall.
Executive Taxis are on +44 1434 605601. There are others based in Hexham.
See
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- 1 St Andrews Church is central in town. The church was first erected by monks of Hexham Abbey in 676 AD and some Saxon components remain, plus a hotchpotch of later styles. It's Anglican and generally open in daylight hours.
- Vicar's Pele in the northeast corner of the churchyard is a three-storey defensive pele tower of 1318 that doubled as the vicarage, and is now a pub and wedding venue.
- 2 The Tyne bridge was built in 1674 to replace that of 1235. It's a graceful seven-arch span, widened in 1881, which carried the A68 until this was re-routed onto A69 Hexham Bypass.
- 3 Corbridge Roman Town, Corchester Lane NE45 5NT, ☏ +44 370 333 1181. Weekends 10AM-4PM. The first Roman fort here was built in 84 AD as they pushed north against the Picts. It burned down in 105 AD so a second was built, guarding the river crossing. In 122 AD Hadrian's Wall was built 3 miles north and Coria for a time was a barracks, then the troops were re-located along this largely peaceful frontier and it transitioned into a civilian town. It may have been occupied for a time by the Saxons after the Romans left, but they eventually settled on the site of the present town. You explore along the High Street, the Roman highway of Stanegate, with granaries, temples, workshops and markets. The museum holds a fascinating collection of artefacts, notably the lion grave-marker and a suit of Roman armour, but the finely-worked silver "Lanx" or tray is now in the British Museum. Adult £10, child £6, concessions £9.
- 4 Old Potteries are two large kilns, reached by strolling up Milkwell Lane.
- 5 Aydon Castle, off Aydon Road NE45 5PJ, ☏ +44 1434 632450. Apr-Oct: W-Su 10AM-5PM. Substantial 13th-century mansion, retro-fitted as a defensive tower when the threat from Scotland grew. It withstood two assaults but was captured and wrecked in 1315. Later owners could only afford minor repairs and from the 17th century it was a farmhouse, but in the late 20th century it was restored by English Heritage. Adults £8.50, child £4.50, concessions £7.50.
Do
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- Hadrian's Wall Path is a grassy trail across the fields following the vallum, the ditch and embankment. The wall masonry hereabouts has long ago been taken for other buildings.
- Northumberland County Show is held in late May at Bywell six miles east, see Prudhoe.
- Corbridge Steam Rally is in June on Tynedale Park.
- Corbridge Music Festival is usually at the end of June, but it's been on hold since 2019.
Buy
[edit]- Coop Food at 3 Hill St, open daily 7AM-10PM.
- Nearby Hexham has bigger supermarkets. For a big-ticket shop, head to Metrocentre west edge of Newcastle.
Eat
[edit]- Corbridge Tandoori in Market Place gets mixed reviews. It's open daily 5-11PM.
- Corbridge Larder is a deli cafe at 18 Hill St, open M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
- 1 The Black Bull, Middle St NE45 5AT, ☏ +44 1434 632261. M-F 11AM-10:30PM, Sa Su 9:30AM-10:30PM. An 18th century coaching inn, part of Chef & Brewer chain, serving hearty English fare.
- 2 Casa Rosso, 18 Front St NE45 5AP, ☏ +44 1434 634214. Su-Th noon-9PM, F Sa noon-10PM. Friendly budget Italian, can cater for vegans and GF.
- 3 Sycamore, Old Town Hall, 4 Princes St NE45 5AD, ☏ +44 1434 239454. Th noon-11PM, F Sa 9:30AM-midnight, Su 9:30AM-6PM. Trad British fare, their Sunday brunch / lunch is popular.
- 4 The Valley, Old Station House NE45 5AY (at railway station), ☏ +44 1434 633434. M-Sa 5-10PM. Mostly great reviews for this Indian restaurant with only occasional lapses. If you book ahead with a group, they offer an escorted package by train from Newcastle, a staff member takes your order on the 30 min ride and phones ahead so it's ready for you. They also have branches in Hexham and in Newcastle Jesmond.
Drink
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- The Pele, the fortified vicarage, is now a pub open Th-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-10PM.
- The Blue Bell on Hill St is open daily noon-11PM.
- 1 The Wheatsheaf, St Helens St NE45 5HE, ☏ +44 1434 409588. Su-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight. Friendly pub with good meals and rooms. B&B double £75.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 The Angel of Corbridge, Main St NE45 5LA, ☏ +44 1434 632119. Comfy trad coaching inn in town centre with good food, dog-friendly. B&B double £130.
- 2 Golden Lion, Hill St NE45 5AA, ☏ +44 1434 634507. Friendly pub with simple rooms, could do with redecorating. B&B double £80.
- 3 Peartree B&B, 38 Roman Way NE45 5JN (just north of centre), ☏ +44 1434 632223. Comfy hospitable B&B. B&B double £85.
- 4 Norgate B&B, 7 Leazes Terrace, Stagshaw Rd N45 5HS, ☏ +44 1434 633736. Small, friendly B&B.
- 5 Duke of Wellington Inn, Newton, Stocksfield NE43 7UL, ☏ +44 1661 844446. Smart country pub with rooms, popular for Sunday lunch. B&B double £130.
- 6 Lord Crewe Arms, The Square, Blanchland DH8 9SP (On B6306), ☏ +44 1434 677100. It's been a hostelry since the 12th century, as a guesthouse to the Abbey. Eventually it became a pub for the lead miners. Great comfort, service and British cuisine. B&B double £175.
Connect
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As of Feb 2023, Corbridge and its approach roads have 4G with all UK carriers. 5G is snaking outwards from Newcastle but has not yet reached the town.
Go next
[edit]- Hadrian's Wall passes three miles north: B6318 follows its course. The section from Newcastle to Chesters is little more than a ditch, and the best of it is further west above Haltwhistle.
- Hexham four miles west has a medieval abbey and jail.
- Kielder Forest is in the hills north towards the Scottish border, with various outdoor activities.
- Newcastle upon Tyne is easily reached for big city amusements.