Hartside to Hedgehope Hill via Threestoneburn Wood - Northumberland 13 March 2017

Hartside to Hedgehope Hill via Threestoneburn Wood and return
Northumberland
Distance 21.5km Climb 876m
Monday 13 March 2017

I left the car on the side of the road near Hartside and walked east down the road. Walking down the road it was warm and a gentle breeze was on my back. The road drops down to Greensidehill (200m), where just passed the house a footpath sign is on the left. 

Crossing the style on the left, I headed north towards the far east side of Dunmoor Hill at the very bottom of Cunyan Crags.

I knew from previous walks in the area that a lot of the wood was being harvested in Threestoneburn Wood. Reaching the fence on the south east corner of Threestoneburn Wood I could see just how much of the wood had been cleared.

I continued north over the style following a line of what was shown on my map as a footpath.

This joined a forest track. The track in places had a large number of deer tracks. I could hear loads of bird activity, lapwings were crying, flying and diving. Grouse were bak bak bak..ing.

Then a trio of geese flew around me, honking. I think they were Bean Geese.

The top of Hedgehope Hill came into view to my west.

At the top of the track a new fence has been built, crossing a style I headed down towards the footbridge to the left, west of Threestoneburn House.

Over the footbridge I headed towards a stone circle. This is mentioned in detail as a Bronze Age stone circle in one of the walks on the Cheviot Walks website.

From the stones I headed back to the track and walked north west on the track as it climbs through the wood.

Reaching the northern edge of Threestoneburn Wood I turned west to follow along the wood line. After a few meters I saw a roe deer, I was down wind and it had not seen me. Quietly I stood still, fascinated. I was trying to remove my camera from its case without making a sound or any sudden movement, when she looked up and was gone in the blink of an eye.

Disappointed in not getting a photo of the deer I continued up the fence line, up and down the couple of climbs and drops to Kelpie Strand.

Looking down from Kelpie Strand.

I was soon on the steep climb, zigzagging my way in places. The views where stunning looking back down Hartburn. Near the summit I could feel the force of a strong cold wind. I had been sheltered in the main by walking up the leeward side of Hedgehope Hill.

At the top of Hedgehope Hill (714m), in the shelter of the stones I had a cup of tea and a sandwich. The views were stunning. Due to the forest being clear in places I could see part of my route across Threestoneburn Wood.

Leaving the shelter of the stones I headed westerly along the fence line with the full force of a cold wind directly in my face.

I knew the way to Comb Fell would be very wet as I danced my way around deep bog, marsh and deep looking puddles. I passed the area where they are still trying out a mesh as a conservation trial on the eastern approach slope of Comb Fell (652m).

At the fence junction, I checked the time I had left, to see if I had any time to go further. I made the decision to drop down, south to Coldlaw Cairn.

From Coldlaw Cairn (610m) there were stunning views all around. From here I could see a route where I would like to walk on another time I was in the area.

Dropping down off the top, I found a little shelter and had more tea and another sandwich. It was so lovely and peaceful sitting here.

After my break, I continued south, south east by a new fence, disturbing the odd grouse.

At the path junction just below High Cantle, I stopped again to check time and distance. Again I would have liked to go on but made the decision to turn east and follow the path across to Rig Cairn (460m).

To my left, north, I could drop down and follow Linhope Burn. Great Standrop stood high to my left with Hedgehope Hill behind. Further left, north west was Comb Fell.

To my right, south, I could drop down to the River Breamish. Shill Moor stood high to my right.

I continued east heading to the north side of Ritto Hill. Where I crossed a style before dropping down a grass track towards a small wood.

Reaching the edge of the wood I turned south east and followed a track around to Linhope. It was warm again in the shelter of the trees and hills.

As the track moves round the wood I could see the road climbing as it leaves Linhope. Daffodils were growing in the shelter of the trees.

Moving from the track to a road at Linhope the road crosses over Linhope Burn before starting to climb. Snowdrops sat in the sun by the side of the road. The road follows east the edge of a wood with large rhododendron bushes. From the top of the climb the road levels between open fields as it approaches Hartside.

Passed the front of the farm a few hundred meters to the side of the road where I had parked my car. It has been another good walk, I was tired now. I had covered 21.5km with 876m 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 a previous walk up Hedgehope and across Comb Fell.

PW - Dufton to High Cup Nick rtn via Murton Pike - Cumbria 7 March 2017.

Pennine Way
Dufton to High Cup Nick return via Murton Pike
Cumbria
Distance 20.8km Climb 770m
Tuesday 7 March 2017

I had seen this walk a number of months ago in a magazine but I cannot recall which magazine it was. Since completing The Pennine Way a few years ago I had always wanted to revisit High Cup Nick, today I was going to do just that. The weather was perfect.

I left the car at the car park in Dufton and walked left a few meters to take a photo of the village fountain. Returning back to pass the car park and to follow the road to the left.

As the road bends round to the right, before the Methodist Chapel I took the footpath straight ahead north east, signposted Pennine Way out of the village.

After passing the houses The Pennine Way continues left, I stayed on the track heading north east around the eastern side of Dufton Pike. The path was very wet, almost like a river in places, muddy, slippery and I started to climb gently away from the village.

It was very warm walking today, so I decided to remove a layer of clothing. I had not expected it to be as warm as this.

After approx 2km I passed through a gate and the path continued up high, by the side of Great Rundale Beck.

Passing old mine workings, the path crosses Great Rundale Beck as it continues to climb up hill. A very steep climb for a few hundred meters.

As the path levels at the top I was at Great Rundale Tarn (670m) with its hut. It was a little cooler here.

After a cup of hot chocolate I headed south easterly over open countryside. The ground was very soft in places and I had to skirt around a number of boggy areas. Passing the 699m cairn I headed towards the 692m trig point.

I was a little sad to see the 692m trig point so damaged and the plate missing. After a couple of photos I continued south easterly along Backstone Edge. I could hear curlew calls as I moved across the open ground.

Crossing a small boulder field I stopped to walk around the Narrowgate Beacon (656m). I crossed more boulders as I continued south easterly.

Reaching a cairn I turned north east to follow along the top edge of High Cup Gill.

The views were stunning as the Gill opened up below me. I was on the high point and could see a number of other walkers moving up The Pennine Way.

I continued around the edge until I found a route down onto High Cup Plain.

Walking around High Cup Nick I stopped occasionally to take a few photos.

Wondrous.

Stunning.

Moving around the eastern side of the Gill I was now heading south west following the edge of the massive feature. It was along here I stopped for my sandwiches and another cup of hot chocolate.

After my sandwiches I continued south west along the edge.

After a small climb I crossed a stream and then climbed a style over a wall. The path I took turned south over open country heading towards Murton Pike.

I contoured around and found I had come too far down. If I had continued on this route, there would have been a steep down hill followed by a steep up hill, so I made the decision to continue round the side of the hill and climb a little. This allowed me not lose too much height when I dropped down to cross the stream.

The area is full of shake holes, some empty, some full of water, and a few with deep patches of snow.

I had to climb down an area of boulders, climb a wall before I crossed the stream. Followed by a steady climb to enable me to contour the south west of Murton Fell for an easy approach to Murton Pike.

It was a short, very steep climb up to the trig point (594m).

Following the route from the magazine I dropped down the western side of Murton Pike. The route in the magazine shows you cross over one footpath to reach the footpath from High Cup Gill north east of Harbour Flatt. I found signs saying private, rather than crossing private land I edged to the west of Harbour Flatt looking for the footpath coming from the south. Eventually after crossing a couple of damp, very wet muddy fields I reached the track and then onto the road.

Turning right, north west I walked approx 2.5km along the road. In the distance far to the south west I could see snow on many of the hills of the Lake District.

The road was very quiet with only one car passing. Eventually I reached Dufton.

It had been a good days walking. I had covered 20.8km with a 770m climb. Very good, I will be coming back here, hopefully soon.

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 Cumbria or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.

Follow link to my last walk here on My Day 9 of The Pennine Way.