Borderline Greenway

Aim: Phase1 of the project will allow renovation of the former Alnwick to Cornhill Disused Railway Track from Greensfield to beyond Rugley Wood.

The Borderline Greenway Project, a multi-use trail: 

  The Borderline Greenway project is a not for profit community initiative, who believe that the former Disused Railway Tracks (DRTs) of north Northumberland have the potential to become accessible, multi-use, permissive public trails for the benefit of locals and visitors to enjoy safe exercise, away from traffic. 

Why do we need multi-use trails ?

  The renovation of former DRTs enable a highly cost-effective way of creating a facility that allows for safe exercise and enjoyment of the natural environment away from traffic and provides a valuable use of otherwise unusable, redundant, former industrial land.

Who will use the multi-use trails ?

  Everybody!  Walkers, Cyclists, parents with pushchairs, horse riders, wheelchair users, children, commuters, tourists and visitors.

Phase 1 of the project:

  Phase 1 of the project will allow the renovation of the track of the former Alnwick to Cornhill disused railway track from Greensfield to beyond Rugley Wood.
Renovation will require the construction of a new bridge at Greensfield. The chosen design is a wooden and steel construction with extra high balustrades to protect horse riders and cyclists using the bridge. Work to construct this link and new trail will begin in the Spring of 2024.

  A further element of Phase 1 is the planned improvement of the existing cycleway connecting the Borderline Greenway Trail to the Aln Valley Railway Cycle Trail.

Promoting a healthy, thriving community: 

  The project will tackle the problem of creating safe places for people to take healthy exercise away from cars and provide improved connections to the coast.

  Alnwick is currently not well connected to wider regional and national footpath networks.

This means that:

• Local people have limited opportunities to make full use of these wider networks. This will bring new opportunities for healthy exercise and active travel.
• Alnwick is missing out on attracting the increasing numbers of those using these wider regional and national routes and becoming a base for their exploration.  This project will bring increased visitor footfall and spend to Alnwick and further increase visitor spend by encouraging overnight stays.

  The renovation of former disused railway tracks enables a highly cost-effective way of creating a facility that allows for safe exercise and enjoyment of the natural environment away from cars and provides a valuable use of otherwise unusable redundant former industrial land.

  The project will therefore bring a wide range of benefits to Alnwick and north Northumberland:

• Increased footfall and income in Alnwick
• The scope to develop new businesses based on Alnwick’s central position in the Northumberland path network.
• Health benefits by creating safe and appealing active travel routes – encouraging more exercise
• Preserving and interpreting the area’s Industrial Heritage and providing new educational opportunities for local young people as well as attracting visitors interested in local history
• Appealing use of former industrial land, transforming it into a significant local asset
• Creating opportunities to promote and protect wildlife along the routes.

The project will deliver a clear and positive impact in the local area by:

• Providing investment in redundant historic infrastructure to create a facility that benefits both locals and visitors to the area and creating an improved traffic free connection to the coast.
• Investing in green active travel, creating accessible paths, cycle trails and information.
• Investing in well-being activities.
• Working alongside local GP practices to promote well-being through exercise.
• Contributing significantly to the net zero economy of the area.