The best traffic-free bike rides around Hexham

The Beaufront Castle Gatehouse is the gateway to the impressive Beaufront Castle, a Grade I listed manor house in Northumberland, near Hexham. Although the castle itself was built between 1836 and 1841 in the Castellated Gothic Revival style by architect John Dobson, the complex contains older elements such as a clock tower with a bell dating from 1694 and parts of a 17th-century house belonging to the Errington family. The gatehouse is believed to be part of this historic structure and served as both ceremonial and functional access to the estate. It stands on a site where a pele tower—a fortified tower house that was later incorporated into the manor house—was mentioned as early as 1415.

National Cycle Route 72, or Hadrian's Cycleway, passes through Stanegate here. Stanegate was a strategic Roman border road in Northern England, constructed around 77–85 AD under Governor Agricola—decades before Hadrian's Wall. The name "Stanegate" comes from Old English and literally means "stone road." Stanegate runs through the valleys of the River Tyne and River Irthing and is approximately 61 km long. It served as a military corridor leading to Hadrian's Wall and, from around 87 AD, became the de facto northern border of the Roman Empire in Britain.

Hexham Old Gaol is England's oldest purpose-built prison, founded in 1333 by William Melton, the Archbishop of York. Located on Hallgate in the center of Hexham, it was built with stone from Roman Corbridge and served for centuries as a prison for convicts from Hexhamshire and the English Middle March. A Grade I listed building in medieval style, it features thick walls and vaulted cellars.

Hexham Abbey is one of England's oldest and most impressive churches. The abbey was originally founded in 674 AD by St. Wilfrid, using stones from nearby Roman ruins. The oldest part—the Saxon crypt—is still intact and represents a rare remnant of early Christian architecture. Inside, you'll find stained glass, the Roman tombstone of Flavinus, a 1st-century standard-bearer, an impressive Phelps organ from 1974, and a frith stool (Saxon bishop's chair). Admission to the abbey is free, with a small charge for the crypt.

The statue of Lieutenant Colonel George Elliott Benson in Hexham is an impressive bronze monument commemorating a British officer who died during the Second Boer War in South Africa. The statue stands directly opposite his former home in the South Tyne Valley. The Grade II listed monument was erected through public fundraising. Benson was born in Allerwash in 1861, educated at Harrow, and served with distinction in several colonial expeditions. His courage and leadership during the Boer War made him a local hero, and the statue is a lasting tribute to his service and sacrifice.

St. Aidan's Church in Hexham is a small but active congregation belonging to the United Reformed Church (URC). The building itself is modest and functional, lacking the medieval grandeur of Hexham Abbey. The church is part of Hexham Churches Together, an ecumenical network that promotes collaboration between different denominations.

Hexham Abbey is one of England's oldest and most impressive churches. The abbey was originally founded in 674 AD by St. Wilfrid, using stones from nearby Roman ruins. The oldest part—the Saxon crypt—is still intact and represents a rare remnant of early Christian architecture. Inside, you'll find stained glass, the Roman tombstone of Flavinus, a 1st-century standard-bearer, an impressive Phelps organ from 1974, and a frith stool (Saxon bishop's chair). Admission to the abbey is free, with a small charge for the crypt.

Warden Bridge is an elegant stone arch bridge spanning the River South Tyne. The current bridge was built in 1903 and replaced an earlier chain bridge dating from 1826, which collapsed under the weight of a steam threshing machine in 1877. The structure consists of two stone arches with one pier suspended in the water. On the south side, the old tollhouse still stands, a reminder of the days when you had to pay to cross the bridge.