Sweethope Loughs are two freshwater lakes almost 1 miles (1.6 km) in length, the smaller one just east of the larger, in the southern part of Northumberland

Northumberland

Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 and lying between the A68 road

A68 road

The A68 is a major road in the United Kingdom, running from Darlington in England to the A720 in Scotland.From Darlington, the road runs north, bypassing Bishop Auckland, and running through West Auckland, Toft Hill and Tow Law, past Consett and Corbridge...

, and the A696 road

A696 road

The A696 is a major road in northern England, that runs from Otterburn in Northumberland to Newcastle upon Tyne.-Route:The A696 begins at a junction with the A68 road . It heads in a south-easterly direction through the village of Otterburn, and then past Kirkwhelpington...

. They lie about 18 miles (29 km) west of Morpeth

Morpeth, Northumberland

Morpeth is the county town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town. The town is from the A1, which bypasses it. Since 1981, it has been the administrative centre of the County of Northumberland. In the 2001 census the town had a population...

; 4 miles (6 km) west of Kirkwhelpington

Kirkwhelpington

Kirkwhelpington is a village and civil parish in the English county of Northumberland about northeast of Hexham. It is on the River Wansbeck alongside the A696 trunk road between Otterburn and Ponteland.- History :...

; and 6 miles (10 km) east of Bellingham

Bellingham, Northumberland

Bellingham is a village in Northumberland, to the north-west of Newcastle upon Tyne and is situated on the Hareshaw burn at its confluence with the River North Tyne. Hareshaw Linn is a waterfall on the Hareshaw Burn near Bellingham. It is pronounced Bell-ing-jumFamous as a stopping point on the...

. There is a crossing between the two lakes, which are lined with trees and surrounded by hills. To the north west are Great Wanney Crag and Little Wanney Crag.

Sweethope Loughs road bridge

At the west end of Sweethope Loughs is the first bridge, actually a culvert, on the River Wansbeck

River Wansbeck

The River Wansbeck runs through the county of Northumberland, England. It rises above Sweethope Lough on the edge of Forelaws Forest in the area known locally as The Wanneys ; runs through the town of Ashington before discharging into the North Sea at Sandy Bay near Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.The River...

 and crossed by the minor road going west from Knowsgate to the A68 road

A68 road

The A68 is a major road in the United Kingdom, running from Darlington in England to the A720 in Scotland.From Darlington, the road runs north, bypassing Bishop Auckland, and running through West Auckland, Toft Hill and Tow Law, past Consett and Corbridge...

. It was constructed in 1972 and is a concrete pipe with masonry headwalls and crosses the narrow river only a few feet wide. The river continues for a mile or so further west on the moors where it rises at a height of about a thousand feet.

Fishing

Sweethope Lough is a renowned fishing location stocked with large rainbow trout, suitable for every angler, from novice to expert. Sweethope Lough boasts good access to those anglers with disabilities, and annually hosts The Viscount Devonport Sweethope Challenge for Disabled Anglers.