The Pastures

About The Pastures

The Pastures is an expanse of open riverside meadow beside Alnwick Castle, reached from Lion Bridge on the northern edge of the town where the River Aln runs below the castle walls. The grassland has long served as common pasture and remains freely open for walking, picnics and quiet recreation, with the medieval castle and surrounding Northumberland countryside forming a striking backdrop across the water. Its flat, sheltered character and celebrated views towards Alnwick make it one of the most scenic pieces of accessible green space in the district.

The Pastures also hosts a free, weekly parkrun, a timed 5-kilometre event held every Saturday at 9am and open to participants of all abilities, from runners to walkers. The course is run entirely off-road on grass, following three laps of the pasture alongside a field fence and returning beside the River Aln, and may gather mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Accurately measured at 5,000 metres, it starts around 200 metres from the castle and offers superb outlooks across the river towards the town throughout.