May the forts be with you

 May the forts be with you. March 20th

Today's walk is the one we meant to do last week but called off because of the weather. Walking from Ingram in the Breamish Valley, starting, not from the visitor centre but from the car park about a quarter mile further on.

Take A1 north, A697 at Morpeth and turn left beyond Powburn. Four miles further on pass the Ingram Farm and stop at the car park a little further on.

The walk is covered by two maps. OS OL 16 The Cheviots, OS Explorer 332 Alnwick.

If you want breakfast there is a cafe at the visitor centre. There are toilets at the car park we used.

There are nine of us out today, an ennead, lovely word.

Slightly cropped  car park photo.

Across the road from the car park a finger posts points to Brough Law, claiming the distance to be 3/4 of a mile. The climb begins immediately and there is no respite, the path climbs about 500 feet, through what was once a wood until it reaches the hill fort on the top.

The remains of Brough Law fort, built between 355 and 155 BC. Thought to have had three defensive stone rings and homes inside. Great views too.

Having admired the stones  we moved on walking south, passing several cairns and enclosures, all marked in Gothic script on the map. Crossing Ewe Hill we took a fairly level route, relaxing for aging legs after the initial climb. The path dipped into Middledean Burn before climbing up to Cochrane Pike, the top is at about 1000 feet.

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 A walk for views

At mile 3 we joined a farm track and were passed by two motorbike riders. One of them, a young lady did not appear to be the happiest of bunnies.

Leaving the track we crossed Rocky Burn and turned north east towards the next hill Old Fawdon Hill.

We meant to go over it but  a change of plan took us, thankfully, round the base. At about 4.5 miles we sat on a grassy bank in the sun for a Herbie. (Apple pies, chocolate bar and sweeat and savoury from Mrs A) 

From the picnic spot the remains of a large settlement are visible.

The settlement is here somewhere, very low walls.

Moving on we headed for Fawdon Farm. The track to the farm that we have used for years has been closed off by the landowners, hence the squiggle on the map at mile 5. Watch out for the marker that takes walkers round the forbidden section and joins the farm track.

At Fawdon Farm there is a gate on the left leading to a good farm track  taking you back to Ingram village  and then on to the car park.

On the way home we called in at the Shoulder of Mutton in Longhorsely, it has TTL.

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The walk is under 8 miles, a couple of climbs but on a sunny day like today well worth it.