Breamish Valley to Cushat Law, Bloodybush Edge - Northumberland 17 May 2016.

Breamish Valley to Cushat Law, Bloodybush Edge and return
Northumberland
Distance 22km
Tuesday 17 May 2016

This is part of another walk I saw on The Cheviot Hills walkabout website, from Geoff Holland. I have attached a link to his site, this walk is part of his walk titled Upper Breamish. 

I left the car at Hartside and walked down the road to Alnhammoor. This starts heading south then left, west, dropping down (200m). I had only walked a few meters before I passed three young chicks and a mother just sitting in the long grass by the side of the road, sitting very still, brilliant. I had a feeling today was going to be a very good day. 

The path turns south again before crossing the stream and rises up to the farm at Alnhammoor. Where the marked path crosses the field in front of the house.

On the track the path turns west, after the farm it turns into a grass path that soon drops down to cross Rowhope Burn, then starts a gentle climb up the far side. The path leads towards Little Dod. At a gate I turned from Geoff Holland's route, rather than climb to Little Dod I turned west across open country and climbed Shill Moor (528m).

Looking south west I could see my next climb Cushat Law. After taking a few photos I followed the fence south wards to Salter's Road. The views were brilliant, it was a lovely clear day and I could see for miles. From my route down I could see the route across Salter's Road (420m) up Cushat Law, as Geoff advised I walked west up the ridge on the right hand side of Smalhope Burn. Climbing up the ridge I could see down the valley to my right, High Bleakhope.

At the top of the ridge I followed the high ground south east up to the cairn at the top of Cushat Law (615m). Although sunny and bright it was a cold wind blowing on the top of Cushat Law.

After a cup of tea and a sandwich I turned north west along the fence line and headed down hill. The last time I walked down here it was a little boggy but today it was very dry and good walking.

I could see from the deep tracks and from walking here a number of years ago I was very lucky today. As it is very boggy when wet and not easy ground to walk across. I dropped down (490m) and started the climb up Bloodybush Edge. It was a long pull up the side of Bloodybush Edge, again better today due to the dry, better than other times and could have been so much worse so I was grateful.  

Although I have walked Cushat Law and Bloodybush Edge a few times before, this was the first time I had walked it from Breamish Valley. From Bloodybush Edge I walked north by a fence line, I had not walked this route before.

As I was heading down hill, I looked across to the wood on my right. Looking through my binoculars I confirmed what I thought was a deer was in fact a row deer. The picture did not come out very good but you can still see it is a deer.

The fence line crosses Salter's Road (468m), where I turned right, east, heading towards High Cantle. Salter's Road was steadily dropping down. I was having a really good day.

Following the path through a gate there was a slight rise before it drops down to a sheepfold.

After crossing a style the path heads down and crosses a ford over the River Breamish. It then follows the river for a few hundred meters.

Crossing the River Breamish again this time by footbridge.

The route I was following now turned east and climbed up a very steep slope towards High Cantle. On the way I looked down to my right and could see the backs of the trees that were on the far side of High Bleakhope which I could see when I climbed Cushat Law earlier in the day.

I was blowing hard when I reached the fence at the top, I had already planned to stop here for a short break and snack. (470m) I now had to decide to either continue on Geoff's walking route up towards Hedgehope or move off his route completely and head east towards Linhope.  Due to the time I needed to be back at home, after my short break, I decided to walk east on the footpath that heads direct to Linhope.

I still had a little time to spare so decided to wander about a little on my way back to Linhope and have a little look about in places I had not been before. After approx 500m on the path I turned off and headed south east to the edge where I had a view back, to my right, towards Low Cantle.

There were lovely views down into the valley to my left and up across to my front at the side of Shill Moor. I continued contoured around east and dropped down to the woods that are to the west of Carswell Cleugh. There were loads of rabbits around here.

I skirted the west hand edge of the wood to join the path at the bottom that runs between the woods it was nice along here and this was where I saw and heard a buzzard flying overhead.

Following the path between the woods I continued east and passed the bottom of Carswell Cleugh.

From here I crossed open countryside to join a track that my map shows drops to the River Breamish and skirts around the very bottom of Ritto Hill. On the track at the fence there is a sign saying restricted access no public access between 1 July and 1 February due to wildlife management program. Although outside these dates I decided to climb back up the fence and walk the north side of Ritto Hill.

This took me onto the track that leads from Linhope to the Linhope Spout. I turned right and followed the path through a gate with a sign showing no access land, although it is a public right of way through Linhope.

Pass a couple of houses and then over the bridge that crosses Linhope Burn before the steady climb up the road towards Hartside.

The road levels off at the top and then drops slightly into Hartside. I passed the road junction on my right the road I had walked at the start of my day. My car was parked approx 100m from the junction. It had been a good day walking.

I had covered approx 22 km with 870m climb.

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.

Follow links to other walks in the area.

Bloodybush Edge via Green Side and Wether Cairn 14 October 2015.

Shill Moor 15 July 2015.

Shill Moor 27 December 2012.

Grasslees Valley to Darden Pike - Northumberland 14 May 2016

Grasslees Valley to Darden Pike and Return 
Northumberland
Distance 6km Climb 300m 
Saturday 14 May 2016

I parked the car in a lay-by on the B6341 in the Grasslees Valley (130m). The same lay-by as I had used a couple of weeks ago, Today Anne was with me and I was showing her Darden Pike.  We headed south down the permissible footpath towards Grasslees Burn. It was very warm and as before a nice day for walking.

The footpath crosses Grasslees Burn (110m) and as before we took the east side footpath through a gate onto a cleared path through the heather as it steadily climbs south, on the east side of a long narrow strip wood. 

The path levels off across the side of Humble Law, then drops slightly through a gate. We could hear a cuckoo in the wood. The path starts to climb again there is a route through the heather where others have walked it was a lot drier today still quite boggy in places, no real hardship. 

We stopped occasionally looking at the stunning views behind us, north, east and west. Where the thin track splits after approx 1.5 km we took the path to the left, east. The last time I walked here I took the path right up towards the top, this path disappeared. Today we walked by the fence, the path still climbed and was good. 

As Darden Lough came into sight we turned right and walked across boggy heather, west towards the fence where I knew a path ran to the top. We disturbed a couple of greylag geese who flew off and landed on the lough.

At the top where there is a large cairn, we climbing over the gate and walked to the trig point at Darden Pike (374m). The daffodils I saw last time I was here were now dead, what a shame. We took a few photos and I showed Anne where I had walked on my previous visit. 

Instead of walking on, today we turned back to the fence and I showed Anne where our route back, we would head down the west path along the left, western ridge. As on the other day the views were stunning we could see north, east and west, for miles.

We set off downhill, through the heather on a narrow path.

The route down had steady a little boggy area, the ground drops and levelled as we moved downhill. 

Looking back at the top, the moon was out.

You could see the top of Darden Pike from a long way on this route.

As we moved down the ridge we could see our start. From the ridge we followed the path as it drops down into the field we had crossed at the start of the walk.

The rock formation and crags to the east looked stunning.

At the bottom of the field we then crossed back over the Grasslees Burn and the short climb back to the car in the lay-by. On our way we saw lapwing and a curlew all in the dip, we should have just sat here and saw it all.

It had been a lovely day walking, we had covered approx. 6 km with approx. 300m climb.

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.

Follow link to my last walk from this carpark Manside Cross via Darden Pike 5 May 2016

Harthope Burn to The Cheviot via Mountain Refuge Hut - Northumberland 12 May 2016

Harthope Burn to The Cheviot via Mountain Refuge Hut and Return
Northumberland
Distance 21.5km Climb 1040m
Thursday 12 May 2016

I parked along Harthope Burn about 1 km east of the building at Langleeford.  I walked east back along the road to where the footpath starts up Cold Law (210m). 

The path was narrow and steep by the side of a stream. It was very warm as I climbed, the forecast was that it would be a good day. Although steep it was a nice climb up to the Cold Law trig point (452m). Where I had a cup of tea, checked my map to see which way I would go next. I could see The Cheviot was covered in mist.  

It was too warm to walk in long trousers so I changed into my shorts. I walked down hill south west onto a path next to a fence line and I could see my path up Broadhope Hill.

The fence line drops to a path junction (377m) then started climbing west again up towards Broadhope Hill. I crossed the fence and continued west up to the top which had stunning views west.

I continued down hill west and turned south down to the edge of the wood, it was along here I disturbed a large roe deer. It was so graceful as it ran through the harvested wood. If it had stood still I would not have seen it, it was only the movement that attracted my eye.

I followed the fence line down to the bottom of the wood. The map shows a footpath through the bottom of the wood however it looked easier going walking along outside the south edge of the wood. Although there was a little up and down in places. It was a lovely little sun trap in the valley and I had to take off my thin fleece.

Leaving the wood behind me I was now following west along a grass footpath. Looking down the valley the views were beautiful. The grass path drops near a small stream then crosses a fence that leads to Goldscleugh. It was a few months ago when I last walked through here from The Cheviot to Hethpool. 

From Goldscleugh towards Dunsdale the path is a tarmac road. After approx 300m frm the end of the harvested wood the road turns slightly to my right I took the footpath direct west to Dunsdale.

The weather was a lot warmer and better than the last time I walked here. Today I could see up Bizzle Crags and I could see there was still a small patch of snow up there.

I walked through Dunsdale (260m) and joined the footpath that climbs up the south side of the wood to the west of Dunsdale. The path follows a fence line south west up to a height of 350m with good views of The Schil.

After crossing an open boggy area the footpath joins the wood again. Parts of the wood had been harvested. I followed along the fence line south west. In the distance I could see my way ahead up by Red Cribs.

After crossing a clearing and a high style the path moved down hill to a narrow stream and a footbridge which leads to a path that rises up from the stream bank to a grass path running south (270m).

It was along this path I saw another roe deer but this one just calmly walked into the trees and out of sight before I could get my camera out.

I could see to my south the path climbing up by Red Cribs.

It had been warm, very warm and sheltered walking down the College Valley. This changed as I reached the top of Red Cribs I could feel the full force of the strong wind blowing across the tops. I turned east towards the Auchope Mountain Refuge Hut (498m).

At the Refuge Hut I had a short rest and a spot of lunch with two lads who were walking the Pennine Way. I had stopped here over night on My Pennine Way.  They had taken it piece by piece over a few years and today they would finish, well done.  We sat in the sun sheltering from the wind. After some tea and a sandwich it was soon time for me to set off again.

Looking into the Hen Hole I could see a number of small waterfalls, a very impressive view.

 I took my time climbing up the very steep side to Auchope Cairn (720m) moving east.

At the top after a slight drop the large stone path starts and I started climbing again.

On my way I passed this little chap sitting in the sun. I also saw a number of walkers moving from The Pennine Way up towards The Cheviot.

As the path continues to climb I passed Cairn Hill and I could see the mist sitting on the top of The Cheviot.

The mist was rolling across the countryside, when I reached the trig point (815m). After a few photos I continued north east along the stone path.

I crossed the fence and headed down hill, the countryside opened up below me and I could see the path drop and rise up Scald Hill. I could also see a lot of the route I had taken earlier in the day, up Cold Law and across to Broadhope Hill.

The path drops down before climbing up again to the top of Scald Hill (549m).

Leaving Scald Hill I walked down the fence line then followed the footpath east down to Langleeford.

At the bottom I turned left at the road and walked the 600m back to my car. Beautiful weather beautiful day walking. I had covered 21.5km with 1040m climb.

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.

Follow links to other walks up The Cheviot.
The Cheviot from Langleeford 8 Oct 2015
The Cheviot from Langleeford 1 April 2010 Look at the snow.