Sunday, 3 February 2013

Great Standrop via Hedgehope Hill - Ingram Valley - Northumberland 2 Feb 2013.

Bulby's Wood to Great Standrop via Hedgehope Hill and Return
Ingram Valley
Northumberland
Distance 17km Climb 660m
Saturday 2 February 2013


What a difference in a fortnight.  I had intended to do another route but the weather changed that. Today Anthony was with me.

We had an early start and a heavy frost overnight made the roads very slippery, especially in the valley itself.  I made the decision that I would park at Bulby's Woods 130m and not risk driving any further.  As we were getting out the car another walker drove passed.

It was very cold when we set off and we were wrapped up as best as we could.  Walking next to the road I found the ground very hard and I had in my mind a line from a school hymn, "Earth as hard as iron", and it certainly was.  The road was like a sheet of ice and I reckoned I had made the right decision in leaving the car at Bulby's Wood.  Most of the ice would clear as the sun rose and the day warmed.

We walked by the road West, to where I had started my last walk.



I had decided to walk the same route to Hedgehope Hill as I had on my previous walk.  I would then decide where we would go.  The Cheviot, or down and across to Shill Moor, I would see what the walking conditions were like and then decide.


Off the road the ground, although covered in snow was good to walk on



It was just below Cunyan Crags we met the driver of the car who had passed us at Busby Woods, he had a couple of dogs.  We continued up Dunmoor Hill 569m.

Anthony at Cunyan Crags, I have a photo of Anthony standing here when he was younger
The views were stunning on this walk compared to my last walk here.

Hedgehope Hill with The Cheviot behind 


We had a short rest in the shelter of Threestoneburn Wood, at the top of Dunmoor Burn.


In part the snow was solid and frozen and sometimes when taking a step we would crack the snow crust and sink through up to our knees, anyway onward and upward.


Hedgehope Hill


Again I have a photo of Anthony sitting here, taken a few years ago, Cheviot behind

At Hedgehope Hill, the wind was very cold, we looked at the time, and so I decided that we would head back down towards Great Standrop 534m.  We turned South West following a fence line down hill then turned left and headed more South towards Great Standrop.  The snow was solid and firm underfoot as we walked down.  There were patches where it was soft and we could see loads of animal tracks.  Wished I knew what they were.

Heading towards Great Standrop.
Anthony on Great Standrop photo taken looking West
As we walked further South down hill, we moved out of the cold wind.  The sun was warm and had softened the snow.  We reached the track at the bottom and had another rest.  A number of years ago we used to walk along here, in particular at a time when the area was used to film the telly series Ivanhoe.  At that time there were tents beside the track.  Along the track they had built a false gate and wall to a castle.  There were boulders as big as my daughter and we took a photo of her lifting one.  It looked funny.  Anyway that was years ago and as expected today that had all gone, apart from the track, stream and hills.


On the track we turned left and travelled West towards Linhope.



We then just walked along the road back to Bulby's Wood.  In places where the sun had not reached the road was still very icy.  I was so glad that I had left the car where I had.




We had covered approx. 17 km, with approx. 660m climb, it was good to get out and walk.  The views could not have been better and I think Anthony had enjoyed the day.

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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Location: Ingram, Northumberland NE66, UK

Sunday, 20 January 2013

Hedgehope Hill - Ingram Valley - Northumberland 12 Jan 2013.

Hartside to Hedgehope Hill and Return
Ingram Valley Northumberland
Distance 13.5km Climb 660m
Saturday 12 January 2013


As I drove into Ingram Valley I had to stop to let a flock of peacocks cross the road.  I passed Busby Woods and parked the car a little further up the valley at a picnic spot.  The ground was sodden, but that was to be expected with all the rain, it was not going to stop me.  I changed into my boots, checked my watch and set off.


As I moved around the road, west, to where the track I was going to take started I could see the mist on the tops.  I had walked this route many times in the past.  Dead ferns covered the fence but there were places were other people had crossed.  Over the fence I headed north.  The path followed the stream that was full and flowing fast, still it was easy to cross as it twisted and turned.  The ground was sodden and there was puddles in places where the water has ran over the banks.  Going up here had always been tiring, after crossing another fence and following the stream a little further the path goes to a little gate after a little climb.


Canyan Crags
As I walked up Canyan Crags I could see the mist to the west.  The route I was taking followed the fence so navigation would be easy.  A lot of work had recently been done to the fence and it was being replaced in many places.  I thought what a fantastic place to work, the people working on the fence, in the wet and windy conditions might not agree but I thought it was a stunning place to work.

Looking South East from Cunyan Crags 
Looking North West from Cunyan Crags
From Cunyan Crags I headed north west to Dunmoor Hill 569m.  We used to call this Eagle Hill because a few years ago when we walked this hill Anne was the first to spot an eagle flying from the hill.  We are convinced it was an eagle, it may have been something else such as a buzzard but as no-one else was there to say any different we are still calling it Eagle Hill.  The lying snow was not as deep as it had been on my previous walk.

From Dunmoor Hill, where the visibility was very poor, I moved north to the edge of Threestoneburn Wood. I walked north west then west along the fence line, as I said the visibility was very poor but every now and then it would lift a little to show the trees.  In places with the snow and wet ground it was also very slippery in places.  At the corner of the wood I crossed the fence.  The ground was always wet along here and today it was no different.  The style was broken and the fence was down so it was easy to cross.


At the top of the wood the track joins a footpath up Hedgehope Hill.  It was just along here I stopped to have a quick snack.  The snow was falling horizontal as hail as I had my snack, no visibility, it felt quite strange.


I only had a short stop then moved up Hedgehope Hill 714m.  We had nick named Hedgehope Hill, Smacky Bottom Hill, after an incident with one of the children a number of years ago.

Walking up was quite hard with the wind and hail.  It is quite steep and slippery in places.  At an opening in a fence I decided to move further west than stay with the fence line.  I knew the fence would take me up through some stones and I thought these would be slippery so rather than risk it I moved west a little and stayed to the grass land.  Near the top where the ground levels off, in the past I have found the ground very wet.  Today the cold was an advantage as it made the ground frozen solid and better to walk on.

Hedgehope Hill 714m
After walking round the top it was slippery on the stones, very windy and cold so I headed down hill as soon as I could.  Frost was clinging to the fences and wire, very pretty.  I fastened all the zips and tied my hat down to keep warm, as the hail stones were now direct in my face.  My eyes were stinging and watering by the time I came back down to the opening in the fence, where the weather eased a little.  The hailstones stopped and within a few minutes the mist clouds lifted.


Coming down the views opened up and were fantastic, worth the effort.  I was following the same route back that I had taken up.

Looking South
Looking East towards Dunmoor Hill
Looking West towards Hedgehope Hill from the side of Dunmoor
Looking at Hedgehope coming out of the mist, from Dunmoor
Visibility good, looking South at Shill Moor Cairn from Dunmoor
Heading towards Cunyan Crags
Looking South East from Cunyan Crags
Looking West from Cunyan Crags
Looking back, North West towards Cunyan Crags, Dunmoor
I had a really good walk, I reached the car, changed my boots and sat and enjoyed the views down the valley for a few minutes before I had to set off home.  I calculated I had only walked for about 5 hrs and covered approx 13.5 km, with approx 660m climb.  Not as far as I would have liked to walk but in the conditions enough to get a good breath of air.

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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Location: Ingram, Northumberland NE66, UK

Friday, 28 December 2012

Bulby's Wood to Shill Moor Cairn, Ingram Valley - Northumberland 27 Dec 2012.

Bulby's Wood to Shill Moor Cairn and return
Ingram Valley
Northumberland
Distance 16km Climb 680m
Thursday 27th December 2012


I cannot remember the last time I was walking in Ingram Valley, it seems like a long time ago.  It also seems a long time since I was last out walking, too long, I am out of practice.

It was raining very heavy when I arrived at the Bulby's Wood car park 130m.  The ground was soaking with all the rain that had fallen recently.  I was following a route we used to do with the children years ago.  From the car park I took the path West up Brough Law 300m to an old settlement.  I was out of shape and could feel it on the climb.  I can remember when I used to run up and down here with hardly breaking breath.  Today I was going to take my time with plenty of stops to take photos.  

Busby Wood car park
View East towards Ingram
Cafe

View from Brough Law looking West

From Brough Law I moved South East across Ewe Hill.  I was heading towards an old settlement shown as a fort on the map.  The ground was very wet with patches of snow and it was slippery in places.


From the fort I moved up and across the side of the hill, West towards Chesters Burn.


Coming across the edge of the hill I moved down towards the burn and found it was very slippery.  At the bottom of the hill, the streams were overflowing and water was finding its own way down hill, running all over the place, and it was deep in some places.  I dithered about trying to find a way across, I should have just went for it.  In the end I just had to go for it anyway, dithering just wasted time.

Through the gate I stood on the bank of the burn, with the rain and all the water lying in the area I expected the burn to be full, and it was.  I had a quick look about to find a way across, was I dithering again?  In the end I just went for it and waded across.  I could feel the force of the water as I crossed, fortunately I had kept my waterproof trousers on so I did not get too wet, not.


Crossing the burn I headed through what was left of the wood and continued West towards Chesters 270m.  In the past I had always found this ground to be very wet, even when the weather has been very dry.  Today as my feet were now wet it didn't matter and I just splashed through the streams and puddles regardless.

Looking West towards Chesters
View South - South East from Chesters

After a quick snack at Chesters I headed up and over the ridge, continuing West.  Going down towards the wood I found the path very slippery.

Looking West towards Alnhammoor
Looking East towards Brough Law

The path through the wood was clear of snow but due to the water that was in the ground this was also slippery.


The ground levels off as I moved out of the wood.  However being flat, water had collected in many places and the ground was very boggy.  I continued West towards Alnhammoor 210m, crossed the bridge, after a quick look at my map I decided to continue West along the path.


Alnhammoor

After passing through a gate there was a small drop down to another stream, crossing the stream over a slippery bridge, I started up a steady climb.  The higher up I moved over the Scaud the more snow there was.  After a sandwich and a snack I moved on.  The higher I moved the colder it was getting and the deeper the snow was getting.

View North East from Scaud
Great Standrop and Hedgehope Hill
 
As I moved up, the snow was getting deeper, but the views were brilliant.  I reached Shill Moor Cairn 528m.  After a few photos it was time to turn back.


Moving down the hill I found it harder going, as it was very slippery in places.  Walking up hill I could get a better grip on the snow than walking down hill.  I slipped and slide my way down back to the stream, over the slippery foot bridge to Alnhammoor.

From Alnhammoor I decided to stay on the road and head back to Bulby's Wood car park.

Looking back to Shill Moor Cairn.
Brough Law
Road to Busby Wood

I had walked for approx 6hrs and covered approx 16km with approx 680m climb, I had had an enjoyable day out walking.

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.
Posted by at No comments:
Location: Ingram, Northumberland NE66, UK
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