Kirkwhelpington is of particular interest to travellers drawn to church architecture, archaeology and routes through the countryside. St. Bartholomew is a church with a medieval date and clearly distinguishable structural elements; the earthwork enclosure at Fawns draws attention to its extent and internal layout. By contrast, the landscape takes centre stage on St. Oswald’s Way. This offers different points of focus: would you like to interpret a church through its structural elements, understand an archaeological site through its measurements, or choose a section of a route by its length?

Walking on St. Oswald’s Way

The section of St. Oswald’s Way starting from Kirkwhelpington runs south through picturesque, rolling farmland. The easily accessible Kirkwhelpington short route on St. Oswald’s Way is 1.9 miles (3 km) long. The two descriptions answer different planning questions: the section from Kirkwhelpington is defined by its direction and landscape, while the short route is defined by its specific distance. If you want to choose by route length, the 3 km short route is the clear point of reference.

St. Bartholomew: Architectural Form and Dating

St. Bartholomew is a Grade II* listed building. The church dates from the 13th century, possibly from an even earlier period. Its architecture includes a low, wide tower, a long nave and a chancel. The contrast between the low, wide tower and the long nave gives the building a distinctive architectural character; the chancel adds another element to its layout. The nave is the main longitudinal space, while the chancel refers to a separate area of the church. The Grade II* designation describes its listed status, while the 13th century indicates its date—two different aspects of the building. Excavations at St. Bartholomew show that the church originally had aisles and transepts. Aisles extend the length of the building to either side, while transepts add a crosswise section. Alongside the tower, nave and chancel, the original floor plan also merits attention.

The Earthwork Enclosure at Fawns

The earthwork enclosure at Fawns is exceptionally well preserved and is one of the few surviving examples in Northumberland. It measures approximately 120 metres long and 95 metres wide, and is enclosed by a 6-metre-wide ditch. These measurements refer to two different features: the length and width describe the enclosure, while 6 metres is the width of the ditch. Inside the enclosure, the remains of at least four slightly raised, rectangular building platforms survive; they lie on the western side of the enclosure. The measurements show the site’s overall extent, while the platform remains give a tangible sense of its internal layout. The rectangular shape describes the platforms’ ground plan, while their position on the west indicates where they lie within the enclosure. This makes it possible to distinguish between the site’s overall dimensions and the individual surviving features when exploring the archaeology.

Discover more destinations: Mickley, Cresswell, Mindrum, Greenhaugh, Edlingham, Callaly, Ilderton, Elsdon

For the main travel overview: Northumberland.