Not a chase, more like a steady plod. (Northumberland) April 26

  Because of restrictions most walks this year have been local, fairly flat and even urban but today four of us are breaking out and walking a Gadgie classic from Langleeford in the Harthope Valley, across to the College Valley, up the Cheviot and down again.

To get to Langleeford :A1 north, A697, turn into Wooler, turn left on first street in Wooler (Cheviot St, very apt) take the right fork, turn right at the signpost for Langleeford and drive carefully for about four miles as the road is pitted with potholes.

There is parking on a grassed area just before the farm.

The walk is possible without a map but it is covered by OS OL 16 The Cheviot Hills.

Such a beautiful parking area I thought it deserved two photos. (It's free too, an added bonus)

Directly opposite the parking area is a narrow footpath which follows the north side of the Hawsen Burn. At one point the footpath joins a farm track but only for a short distance before leaving it on the left for more path, and then more track.

Looking back down Hawsen Burn with Langlee Crags on the far hillside.

Eventually the path comes to a fence, there is a stile  to cross, more path to walk and then a farm or forestry track. Turn right and walk the track. At one point there is a footpath on the left which goes through a wood. Several trees have been blown over making the path a bit of an assault course but once out of it the walking is easy to Goldscleugh Farm.

                              Assault course

                         Old Goldscleugh Farm house. There is a new one just round the corner.

                               Le Coq d'or.

From Goldscleugh the walk goes by road alongside the Lambden Burn to the next farm at Dunsdale which was declared a Herbie Spot.

                            Herbie time at Dunsdale : Racer bars, savoury tart and lemon cake from Mrs A.

                                  Dunsdale, a holiday let I think

                              But with some exciting looking farm machinery.

From Dunsdale the walk goes through the farmyard and across fields, very dry and lumpy today, almost ankle breakers. At one point the path looks down on Mounthooly, once a Youth Hostel but now an independent bunkhouse.

                                   Mounthooly at the head of the College Valley.

Watch out for the ladder stile on the left as the path goes downhill and ignore it, it is problematic on the other side.

Nice stile but difficult path through the wood.

The better path goes downhill and immediately turns left and heads for the stream which is easy to cross as there has been so little rain this April.

The next part of the walk is an easy going track through newly planted deciduous woods and open fields to the start of a steepish climb up to Red Cribs and the mountain Refuge. (Harry and I opted to climb over Lauder grass to reach the Pennine Way on the ridge. It cut a corner but was hard going.) The path offers fine views of the Hen Hole. This is an alternative route to Auchope Cairn. It requires some scrambling and is steep in places, we took the easier option.

                                      The Hen Hole, with snow.

Once on the well worn Pennine Way the path climbs steadily for an eternity until it reaches Auchope Cairn where a second Herbie was called.

                         A cairn from the cairn

Auchope Cairn, like the ridge from the Mountain Refuge is on the English/Scottish border. From the cairn the footpath has been paved with flagstones all the way to the Cheviot Summit. Before they were laid it was a soggy, boggy area difficult to walk across, especially in wet weather. The flagstones are useful for that reason but make it all a bit boring.  

                                     The flagstoned path across the Cheviot

                                                                             Eventually, turning left at the junction and passing Scotsman's Cairn the path reaches the Cheviot Summit which is at the grand height of 815 metres or 2674 feet in proper units. Not the most exciting of summits, a dull plateau with fine views.

                         Cheviot Summit

Not far beyond the summit cairn the flagstone path reverts to hard ground and starts the long descent, apart from the slight rise again at Scald Hill. About a half mile from Scald Hill top the path on the right takes walkers downhill, passing grouse butts, until it reaches the valley road close to Langleeford farm.

Turn left and very soon you are back at the car park.

                        Grouse Butt. (Not sure? They are to protect men with guns when they shoot grouse on the moors.)

                          Langleeford Farm.

On the way home we called in at The Cook and Barker, current favourite watering hole. Sadly no Timothy Taylor's but they offered Tyneside Blonde or Secret Kingdom. Tried them both.

              All the little ups and downs come to about  3000 feet

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Four photos from Harry, with thanks