Drakestone

High on Harbottle Hill, a few miles to the west of Rothbury stands a massive sandstone block, known as the Drakestone. It stands, overlooking Harbottle  Lough, a lonely tarn surrounded by sandstone ridges with sweeping views across the heather to Redesdale.

 There is a story that tells of a plan to drain the tarn but the workmen fled at the sound of voices singing:

"Let alone, let alone
Or I'll drown Harbottle
And the Peels and the bonny Holystone"

The Drake Stone is reached by a narrow but well worn path from the forest to the west of Harbottle. Almost 30 feet in height at its maximum it presents quite a challenge to visitors, for whilst it is fairly easy to climb up, using the cracks in the surface, descent is more difficult. Folklore has it that cries for help were not unusual with passing travelers spending the night in safety at the top but unable to descend  in the morning.

Folklore also tells of sick children being passed over the stone to facilitate their recovery. And this may well be true as the huge stone was the Draag Stone of the Druids. At any rate Tomlinson tells us that:

"Harbottle is an exceptionally healthy place ........and mortality among children almost unknown"