Drove roads in Northumberland

Drift or Drove roads across Northumberland were the ancient paths taken by cattle, geese and sheep across the countryside between Scotland and London. The drove roads tended to avoid the main highways and towns.

Some experts have estimated the number of cattle being driven down from Scotland to London as high as 30,000 per year. The majority of these would have gone through Northumberland. The drive from Scotland to London would have typically taken eight weeks.

However these drove roads have not left a lasting legacy on place names within Northumberland.