Humbleton Hill Fort and beyond
Near Wooler
Northumberland
Distance 17km Climb 510m
Thursday 30 October 2014
My colleague Adrian, had identified a possible route on the map which we may be use to take some friends on a walk. Today was our opportunity to check out the route and become familiar with the ground.
Unfortunately the camera I had taken has a small scratch on the lens, the scratch sometimes, depending on the light blurs things or comes out as a ghostly light on the photo.
We left the van at the carpark south west of Wooler and followed the path along St Cuthbert's Way. This took us over a footbridge heading north through a small wood with s sharp climb. The Way then turned west.
After approx 300m St Cuthbert's Way continued west, we took the path north on the east side of Humbleton Hill. This took us down hill and was slippery in places. After another 600m we turned west through a gate and started walking up Humbleton Hill.
Looking south we could hear firing, and could see there was a shoot on. I hoped it would be over by the time we came back around that way. Strange everywhere we went we could not move for grouse, obviously hiding from the shoot.
From Humbleton Hill Fort 298m we had a clear view of all the surrounding area. You could see that it had been an area of importance and I suggested we call into the tourist information office in Wooler on our return to see what information we could find out.
We started down following what would have been the outer wall to the path that headed south west. There was a slippery part here. Over a style where we followed the ground down then a short climb back up to the St Cuthbert's Way.
We headed up St Cuthbert's Way for a few hundred meters before turning north up Gains Hill towards the spot height. We decided that on the day of the walk we would turn at the junction and follow the shooting buts up the hill.
From Gains Law 319m we walked west to rejoin the St Cuthbert's Way, which took us south west around a small re-entrant. We moved through a couple of gates following a wall before turning north west across country, still following the Way. This took us through a gate by the south west edge of a small dog leg wood. From the top of the wood we continued with a gentle climb north west by a fence until we were south west of Tom Tallon's Crag.
This is where we left the St Cuthbert's Way and took a farmers track to join the footpath to the west. Once on this footpath we headed south, passed Wackerage Cairn and height 334m. We joined the road just below Commonburn House. Turning right, south west we walked up the hill to Commonburn House, walking passed the farm we turned south on the footpath passed the house. We followed the wall down to Common Burn and crossed at the ford. Where we followed the track just south of a small wood, at the south east corner of the small wood we stopped and had our packed lunch.
After lunch we headed south along the footpath to Broadstruther. The path undulated in places until it dropped to the Broadstruther Burn. We crossed the footbridge and followed the road to the rise then took the footpath across to Broadstruther.
From Broadstruther we took the bridle path north, that turned east down to another footbridge back over the Broadstruthers Burn. Followed by a gentle climb to a gate into the edge of a sparsely covered wood.
The path followed the Burn down further into the wood. It passed close to a part that would be good for swimming, not today but a nice sunny warm day. Following the Burn the path continued north east up a steep rise out of the wood. At a gate after a few minutes rest we moved onto a wide path.
The path continued north east and as we crossed a rise we could see the Humbleton Hill fort, where we walked earlier in the day. We were also in the area that we had seen the shooting party in earlier in the day. The path took us across Wooler Common before dropping down to the road. As we approached the road we could see the van in the car park.
In the car park I had another look at the board and saw this sign for Sheila.
The lady in the Wooler tourist information office was very helpful with regards to information we could share on our walk.
It was a good day walking, we had covered approx 17km with 510m climb. I hope the lads like it, follow link to next weeks walk.
More to follow.
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done in Northumberland or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
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