Flodden Field
a historical dog walk in Northumberland
Flodden, Wooler, Northumberland, NE71 6JF
Visit WebsiteFive hundred years ago, the boundary between England and Scotland was a wild and windswept borderland, with settlements frequently changing hands and the border moving north or south on a regular basis. Battles were won and lost over hundreds of years, but perhaps the best known is the Battle of Flodden – famous due to the death of the Scottish king, James IV, during the battle.
- Children Welcome
- Multiple Dogs Allowed
- Parking
- Rural Walks
Good to know
Overview
Flodden today is a peaceful place, with gently rolling fields and hedgerows atwitter with cheerful birdsong. Save for the huge stone memorial and visitor information boards scattered around the site, you’d never imagine that this was the scene of a major conflict.
But Flodden was one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on English soil (although not the bloodiest, which dubious honour goes to the Battle of Towton in North Yorkshire). Historians estimate that between ten and seventeen thousand Scots perished at Flodden alongside their king on that fateful day in 1513.
Visitors can follow the battlefield trail to re-live the movements of the troops and the development of the battle. Initially there was a strong Scottish advantage with the troops surging forwards, thinking that victory was assured, but ultimately this didn’t last and the battle ended in a decisive (and ruthless) English victory.
The trail is a quiet and peaceful walk, which has a few gentle uphill sections, although these can be avoided if you prefer to stay on the flat. The field of Flodden is popular with local dog walkers, although rarely busy. Take a moment amid the tranquility to think about what it must have been like for a solider with the battle raging around him, and to think about how lucky we are that times have changed in the last five hundred years.
For The Dogs
Bring leads, water and poop bags.
Opening Hours
Daylight hours are recommended.
Parking
Park at Flodden Field car park, Cornhill-on-Tweed, TD12 4SS.
The Area
To discover more of the history around Flodden, head to Norham Castle, which fell to James IV shortly before the battle. For more battlefields, head to Humbleton Hillfort near Wooler, where an earlier Scottish army was defeated by Henry ‘Hotspur’ Percy, or walk to Swallowship Pool, a beautiful spot close to the site of the Battle of Hexham, fought during the long and bloody Wars of the Roses. Hexham itself is a very dog friendly place, with many shops and cafés welcoming four-legged companions, while Hexham Old Gaol is a good dog friendly option for a rainy day.
For more walks, pubs and places to stay, see our guide to dog friendly Northumberland.
