Black Middens Bastle House
A 16th-century fortified farmhouse in Northumberland’s Tarset Valley, built to withstand border reiver raids and now a quiet, evocative ruin cared for by English Heritage.
Perched in a remote stretch of Northumberland’s Tarset Valley, Black Middens Bastle House is a 16th-century fortified farmhouse built to withstand the lawless raids of the Anglo-Scottish border reivers. Its thick stone walls, once sheltering livestock below and family above, now stand as a roofless but evocative ruin, cared for by English Heritage. The site offers a quiet, atmospheric glimpse into a turbulent past, where farmers lived in constant readiness for attack, and where the nearby ruins of a later cottage hint at centuries of quiet rural life. A short walk from a small car park leads to this isolated, windswept monument.
A brief summary to Black Middens Bastle House
- north haul road, Hexham, NE48 1NE, GB
- +443703331181
- Visit website
- Duration: 0.5 to 1.5 hours
- Free
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Outdoor
- Mobile reception: 3 out of 5
- Monday 9 am-5 pm
- Tuesday 9 am-5 pm
- Wednesday 9 am-5 pm
- Thursday 9 am-5 pm
- Friday 9 am-5 pm
- Saturday 9 am-5 pm
- Sunday 9 am-5 pm
Local tips
- Visit on a clear day to appreciate the wide, open views across the Tarset Valley and imagine the isolation felt by the original inhabitants.
- Wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for uneven, grassy ground and potentially muddy conditions, especially after rain.
- Combine your visit with other nearby bastles on the Tarset Bastle Trail for a fuller picture of border reiver life in Northumberland.
- Keep dogs on a lead, as the site is in active farmland with livestock nearby.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Restrooms
- Drinking Water
- Seating Areas
- Trash Bins
- Information Boards
Getting There
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By car
From Bellingham, follow the B6320 north towards Tarset, then take minor roads signposted to Black Middens Bastle House. The final stretch is a narrow, winding lane through farmland; allow 30–40 minutes from Bellingham. A small car park is available on the roadside, with a 180-metre walk over uneven grassland to the site.
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Public transport + walk
Take a bus to Bellingham, then a local taxi or pre-arranged ride to the roadside car park near Black Middens. From there, it’s a 180-metre walk over uneven grassland to the bastle house. Direct public transport to the site is not available.
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Walking
From Bellingham, follow the Tarset Bastle Trail or local footpaths north through the Tarset Valley. The walk is about 11 km each way over mixed terrain, taking 3–4 hours round trip; suitable for experienced walkers with good footwear and navigation skills.
Black Middens Bastle House location weather suitability
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Any Weather
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Rain / Wet Weather
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Clear Skies
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Windy Conditions
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Mild Temperatures
Discover more about Black Middens Bastle House
A Bastle in the Borderlands
Standing in an isolated spot on the north side of the Tarset Valley, Black Middens Bastle House is a classic example of a bastle – a fortified farmhouse unique to the Anglo-Scottish border region. Built in the late 15th or early 16th century, it reflects the harsh realities of life in the ‘debatable lands’ where cross-border raids by reiver clans were a constant threat. The bastle’s design is simple and pragmatic: a robust, rectangular stone building with walls over a metre thick, built to protect both people and livestock. Its very form speaks of a time when security was as important as shelter, and every farmer had to be ready to defend hearth and herd.Life in a Fortified Farmhouse
The bastle follows the typical two-storey layout of its kind. The ground floor was originally a byre, housing cattle and sheep, with only narrow ventilation slits instead of windows for security. The family lived on the first floor, accessible only from above, originally by a ladder that could be pulled up at night. External steps and sockets for a drawbar on the upper door show how access was carefully controlled. Inside, stone corbels and beam holes at the west end once supported a hearth, marking the heart of domestic life. Though now roofless, the lower ends of the timber roof trusses are still visible, and the building once had a slate roof, a later addition that speaks of its long use as a working farmstead.Layers of History on the Hillside
Black Middens is more than just a single building; it is a small archaeological site with layers of occupation. Beside the bastle stands the remains of an 18th-century stone cottage, built on the foundations of an earlier structure, suggesting that the site remained a focus of settlement for centuries. The bastle itself was likely occupied well into the 19th century, long after the border reivers had been suppressed, and probably continued in agricultural use into the 20th century. Nearby, the ruins of another bastle and a group of three roofed bastles a mile away hint at a network of related farmsteads, where neighbours could support one another in times of trouble, creating a patchwork of fortified homes across the valley.A Glimpse of Reiver Violence
Historical records offer a rare but vivid glimpse of Black Middens in action. In 1583, the site appears in a single surviving documentary reference, when it was attacked in a raid by the Armstrong family, one of the most notorious reiver clans. This event underscores the very real danger that shaped the bastle’s design: thick walls, minimal ground-floor openings, and a first-floor entrance were not architectural quirks but essential defences against armed raiders. The name ‘Black Middens’ itself evokes the dark, rugged landscape of the Northumberland uplands, where such fortified farmhouses were a common sight, each a small stronghold in a lawless frontier.Visiting a Quiet Monument
Today, Black Middens Bastle House is in the care of English Heritage and is open to the public free of charge during daylight hours. It lies at the end of a long, narrow road through sheep-filled fields, with big, open views across the Tarset Valley. A short walk of about 180 metres from a small roadside car park leads across uneven grassland to the site, which is well signposted. The atmosphere is quiet and contemplative, with the sounds of wind, birds, and distant livestock replacing the clatter of hooves and shouts of reivers. Information boards on site help visitors understand the bastle’s layout and history, making it an excellent stop for anyone interested in the turbulent border past of Northumberland.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
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Markets, malls and hidden boutiques
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For the vibe & atmosphere seeker
- Tranquil
- Scenic
- Unique
- Relaxing
For the design and aesthetic lover
- Rustic Designs
- Vintage Styles
For the architecture buff
- Historic
- Heritage Neighborhoods
For the view chaser and sunset hunter
- Panoramas
- Scenic
For the social media creator & influencer
- Photo Spots
- Aesthetic Corners
For the eco-conscious traveler
- Protected Area
- Public-Transport Accessible
- Leave-No-Trace Critical
For the kind of experience you’re after
- Cultural Heritage
- Photowalk
- Nature Escape
- Day Trip
For how adventurous you want the journey to be
- Easy Access
- Requires Hike
Location Audience
- Family Friendly
- Senior Friendly
- Child Friendly
- Teen Friendly
- Wheelchair Access
- Solo Friendly
- Couple Friendly
- Solo Female Friendly
- Business Friendly
