Hazelrigg Tower

Hazelrigg Tower stands on the Northumberland moors near Belford as a squat, weathered reminder of the region's turbulent past. It's a 16th-century pele tower - one of those defensive structures that pepper the borderlands, built when raids from Scotland made stone walls and narrow windows a sensible investment rather than a luxury.

You'll find it in open moorland, which means the walk to get there is half the experience. The tower itself is compact, nothing like the grand fortifications you might encounter further south. It's the kind of place that rewards a historian or anyone interested in the practicalities of medieval border life, but casual visitors might find twenty minutes of poking about is enough. There's no visitor infrastructure here - no café, no interpretation boards - so you need to be reasonably self-sufficient.

The location works well if you're based at one of the caravan parks clustered around Belford and Wooler. South Meadows is closest at 3.5 miles, and from there you could incorporate a tower visit into a longer moorland walk. Late spring through early autumn is best for visibility and underfoot conditions.

Worth the detour if you're already exploring the Northumberland hills, though don't plan an entire trip around it. The broader landscape - rolling moors, big skies - counts for more than the tower itself. Check locally in Belford for current access details and parking arrangements before heading out.