Tosson Tower
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Tosson Tower

A roofless medieval pele tower at Great Tosson, caught in autumn sun on our way to Simonside. A short, rewarding stop for Border history and weathered stone.

Address:

Great Tosson, Rothbury, Northumberland, NE65 7NW

Hours:

Always open

Map

Good to Know

Tosson Tower is a ruined medieval pele tower on the south side of Great Tosson, a short drive from Rothbury on the road up to Simonside. Roofless and stripped of much of its outer facing stone, it still has walls around two metres thick and fine views north across the Coquet Valley. It sits beside a working farm, so park considerately and respect the farm around it.

Tom’s Notebook

  • Best for: A short history stop on the way to or from Simonside.
  • Dog friendly: An outdoor stop, but keep dogs on a lead near the farm and any livestock.
  • History: A 14th–15th century tower house linked with the Ogle family. Even by 1541, a Border survey described it as in poor repair.
  • Price: Free.
  • Best time: Low autumn sun, which brings out the texture of the stone.
  • H&S tip: Pair it with Tosson Lime Kiln nearby, then carry on uphill to the Simonside car park.

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Tosson Tower — A Brief History

A small tower built for a hard landscape, Tosson has stood above the Coquet Valley for around 600 years.

1300s–1400s — Built for Refuge
A stone tower house rises at Great Tosson during the long years of war and raiding along the Border.

1517 — The Ogles
William Ogle passes the tower to Lord Ogle in exchange for Cocklaw Tower.

1541 — Already Ailing
A survey of Border defences records it as a tower of Lord Ogle’s inheritance, not in good repair.

1700s — Stone Robbing
Much of the outer facing stone is carried off for nearby cottages and farm buildings, leaving the rubble core exposed.

Today — Protected
The ruin is a Grade II* listed building and a scheduled monument.

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Our Time at Tosson Tower

A tower in the sunshine

Some places earn a spot in your day without ever appearing on the itinerary.

We were heading from Rothbury towards Simonside, comfortably full of breakfast, when Tosson Tower caught our attention.

The sun had picked it out perfectly. Old stone, empty windows and the remains of a building that still looked remarkably determined to be there.

We stopped, got out and went to explore.

After our recent reading about the Border Reivers, the timing seemed particularly good. Almost as though the tower had heard we were coming and arranged its own lighting.

Worth stopping for

There’s something compelling about these smaller ruined towers.

They don’t have the grandeur of Northumberland’s great castles, but getting close to that substantial stonework brings a different kind of appreciation. You begin to imagine the reassurance of thick walls and a solid door when life beyond them was rather less predictable.

Tosson Tower has that stubborn presence. Roofless and weathered, yet still capable of making you pause and think about the people who once depended on it.

We’d set out with other places in mind, but were pleased we took the time to stop.

History on the way to the hills

The beautiful autumn light certainly helped. It brought out the texture of the stone and gave Tom another reason to linger with his camera.

From here, we continued uphill towards Simonside, swapping the tower for sandstone outcrops and enormous views.

It made a lovely addition to the day: a little exploring, a little history and another reminder to leave room between the things you’ve planned.

Heather & Sand verdict: A characterful ruin well worth our stop while heading towards Simonside. Particularly rewarding if you enjoy old buildings, Border history and photographing weathered stone in beautiful light.

Read the full story from our visit: Golden Light & Darker Corners.

Featured in our guides

Border Reivers in Northumberland: Pele Towers and Bastles