Today, Northumberland is England’s least populated and most peaceful county – a tranquil landscape of open skies and rolling moorland. But centuries ago, it was a wild and lawless border land – ruled over by warring clans of Border Reivers.
The legacy of this turbulent past lives on in the landscape and the generations of families still bearing Reiver names. Nestled at the heart of the region and surrounded by history – our 5 star estate is the perfect place to discover the fascinating story of the Border Reivers and uncover your own ancestral roots with our expert and personalised genealogy service.
Book NowThere are few places in the UK more disputed than the Anglo-Scottish borderlands. Time and time again Northumberland became a battleground as English and Scottish forces fought for dominance in the late Middle Ages.
Volatile and rebellious, the north was hard to control and many living here turned to castle rustling to survive. Clans of lawless Border Reivers grew, rustling, raiding and marauding the border valleys, living outside the law and loyal to their family name rather than English or Scottish crowns.
In 1249, the Laws of the Marches were established to manage the borderland. Lands from Cumberland in the west and the Northumbrian coast in the east were split into The East Marches, The Middle Marches and The West Marches.
In the Tudor and Elizabethan eras the Border Reivers ruled the border – riding the landscape, carrying out night raids and feuding with rival clans. The legacy of the Reivers has left us with terms such as ‘blackmail’ and ‘caught red-handed’.
Spanning nearly 150 miles and encircling the heart of rural Northumberland, The Reivers Way invites walkers to step back in time. Use our interactive map to choose your route, follow trails once ridden by wild Border Reivers, discover historic bastle houses and pele towers and breathe in the untamed beauty of our border region.
Walk Distance: 14.2 miles
Clans from this area:
Walk Distance: 11 miles
Clans from this area:
Walk Distance: 13 miles
Clans from this area:
Walk Distance: 18 miles
Clans from this area:
Walk Distance: 13.5 miles
Clans from this area:
Walk Distance: 20 miles
Clans from this area:
Walk Distance: 15 miles
Clans from this area:
Walk Distance: 9 miles
Clans from this area:
Walk Distance: 7 miles
Clans from this area:
Walk Distance: 10 miles
Clans from this area:
Walk Distance: 9 miles
Clans from this area:
Uncover your Northumbrian past and trace your Border Reiver roots with our Personalised Genealogy Experience.
Our local genealogy expert will work with you to trace your family’s unique ancestry, linking you to Border Reiver families and giving you the history of your Northumbrian clan. Step into your family history with a bespoke walking tour, personalised to the origins, locations and historical sites of your Border Reiver ancestors.
Start your journey
Fiercely loyal to their family, each clan held territory in the Northumbrian border where disputes and feuds often boiled over into retaliation and even kidnap. Border Reiver names live on around the world today – use our map to find your clan.
With a history that dates back to the 1300s, Matfen Hall has its own Border Reiver legacy. West Matfen High Hall was purchased by Lancelot Fenwick in 1625 and later taken on by John Douglas in 1680. Both men are descendants of notorious Reiver families from either side of the border.
There are Border Reiver families with the Fenwick name across Northumberland, and their names arise in many histories of battles and uprisings including the Rising
of the North in 1569.
Based in Lanarkshire in the Scottish lowlands, the powerful Douglas clan held considerable territory throughout the Northumbrian border region. In 1388 James Earl Douglas and his 4000-strong army invaded England, culminating in the Battle of Otterburn where he was killed by Harry Hotspur of the Percy family of Northumberland.
Set in the heart of the Northumbrian countryside and secluded in 300 acres of private parkland, our estate offers the perfect balance of history and luxury. The grade II listed Gothic manor hall has been lovingly restored, offering a graceful blend of authentic heritage charm and opulent modern comfort.
The region’s only AA 5 star hotel, it’s a sanctuary of calm luxury during your Border Reiver adventure. Relax and enjoy award-winning fine dining, soothing spa rituals and world-class golf facilities to experience the very best of Northumberland in style.
Book Now