Goatscrag
Rock Art
NT 977 370
Park in the same place as for Roughting Linn on the lane from the B6525. Walk down the track signed to Roughting Linn Farm, cross the bridge and continue on the track to the farm. Beyond the farm the path becomes grassy and you can see the crags on your right. After about 200m the reddish brown crag above is the one with the carvings. To reach it walk on to where the path splits, take the right fork and carry on to where it comes up to the foot of the crags. From here you can work your way back along a higher path. The smooth face with the carving is at the end of an overhanging section of rock that was used as a rock shelter.
View of Goatscrag overlooking the farm
The name Goatscrag could refer to wild goats. The discovery of animal carvings on the wall at the overhang is the first of anything other than abstract motifs. They are not regarded with certainty as prehistoric though, however these overhangs were used as shelters and burial places in prehistoric times and the linked cupmarks just above provide some evidence for them. The smooth face with the deer carvings is at the end of the overhanging section with the flat face.
The carved panel in the rock shelter with four deer
Above
the start of this section of overhang are some rare “horseshoe” shaped
carvings. Walk back to find a safe way up to the top of the crags. The
safest is to return to the wall and footpath where access is easy. Look
for the carvings near where the smooth face starts underneath. Be very
careful here. You don’t need to go near the edge to see them.
The horseshoe motifs
Here can be seen a series of two cups linked by curved grooves that look like horseshoes. These are rare and a cluster of ten that are here is considered unique. There are also two other cups, perhaps an unfinished motif, are on the end of the rock.
They overlook the site of Roughting Linn and the views from here are excellent.
Northumberland sites -