Salt roads in Northumberland

Back in the middle ages each "town" tried to be self supporting. However Salt was one commodity which usually had to be imported. This in turn made it an attractive source of tax revenue. The roads which were used to help transport Salt became known as Salt roads. One of these followed an even older track from the Tyne through Alnmouth into Scotland.

The Salt trade has left its mark amongst place names in Northumberland, examples being

1. Saltwick
2. Salters' Bridge
3. Salters' road

The Salt roads generally ranked quite low on accessability although it is believed that some were paved.