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Big Days Out with Footsteps

Tackle Some of the Higher Hills

Wooler, the Newton Tors and Yeavering Bell

Although, we’re not heading for the highest hills in the National Park, we do get to the summit of quite a few them on this walk, which begins with a walk through a dramatic river valley before heading for open country and high moorland to the west of Wooler. We Include Hare Law, Wester and Easter Tors with their terrific viewpoints before ascending to the summit of Yeavering Bell, with its huge Iron Age enclosure and ancient history. Along the way we can expect to see any number of the Wild Cheviot goats that inhabit these hills, particularly around the Tors and Yeavering Bell. We complete the walk by following a section of St. Cuthbert’s Way back to our start point at Wooler Common.

  1. Distance – 16.5 miles or 26.5 kilometres
  2. Ascent – 2709 feet or 826 metres
  3. Price £50.00 per person, £90.00 for two and group rates are available on request

The Coquet Valley, the Pennine Way and Windy Gyle

The delightful Coquet Valley in Northumberland National Park offers some excellent hill walking. The Valley lies deep in the Park, bounded to the north by the Border Fence, which doubles as the Pennine Way and the Otterburn military ranges to the south. This is sheep country and the grass covered hills are in contrast to the heather clad hills further north. We set off from Barrowburn and head west along the road before beginning a gentle ascent across country to reach the Mountain Refuge Hut perched high on the Border. Here we join the Pennine Way and head north east, passing Lamb and Beefstand Hill, evocative names reflecting the land use of the hills here in Northumberland. Windy Gyle lies ahead and it’s a steady ascent to the summit of this great hill with panoramic views into Scotland and England too; it lies just on the Scottish side of the Border, a feature of the Border Fence in these parts. From Windy Gyle, we descend back towards Barrowburn and then to the pub in Alwinton to reflect on a great day out in the hills of Northumberland.

  1. Distance – 13.7 miles or 22 kilometres
  2. Ascent – 2605 feet or 794 metres
  3. Price £50.00 per person, £90.00 for two and group rates are available on request

The Big Three in the Breamish Valley

The walk sets off from Hartside Farm in the Breamish Valley, Northumberland National Park. It begins gently enough as we head for the Salter’s Road via the Shepherd’s Cairn. The Cairn commemorates the deaths of two shepherds in the Winter of 1962, a poignant reminder of just how harsh life can be in the uplands. From the Salter’s Road, we begin the ascent of Hogdon Law, at 1,800 feet (540 metres) it’s the first of the big three today. There is no easy path off Hogdon Law, as we make our way across the hilltop to follow the fence and head for the summit of Cushat Law. At 2,017 feet (615 metres), it and the next hill Bloodybush Edge 2,001 feet (610 metres) qualify as mountains. At the foot of Bloodybush Edge we re-join the Salter’s Road and the valley of the River Breamish and ascend to the top of High Cantle, 1581 feet (482 metres) and then a fine ridge walk follows and takes us across a grouse moor and down to Linhope Spout, an impressive 40 feet waterfall and a fitting place to visit as we approach the end of the walk at Hartside Farm.

  1. Distance – 15.5 miles or 25 kilometres
  2. Ascent – 2857 feet or 871 metres
  3. Price £50.00 per person, £90.00 for two and group rates are available on request

The College Valley, the Hen Hole, The Cheviot and The Schil

The Hen Hole is a steep-sided ravine on the north side of The Cheviot in Northumberland National Park. We make our approach through an area known as “the wilderness” at the western end of the College Valley. The College Burn flows through and out of the Hen Hole and a series of impressive waterfalls tumble over the ledges making it an attractive as well as a challenging walk through to where the route ascends to the Cheviot plateau. We then head for the summit of the highest hill in Northumberland, The Cheviot. From there we pick up The Pennine Way and follow the Border Fence via Auchope, the refuge hut at the head of the College Valley and on to The Schil, a 600+ metre hill with its summit just on the Scottish side of the Border. From there, we descend off The Schil and head for Black Hag and Blackhaggs Rigg and on to the valley floor and the end of our walk.

  1. Distance – 13 miles or 21 kilometres
  2. Ascent – 3,100 feet or 950 metres
  3. Price £50.00 per person, £90.00 for two and group rates are available on request