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.
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