The Cheviot, Northumberland
A hidden waterfall leads you away from the crowds and up high for big views across Northumberland.
There are two things that immediately strike a person when they begin a walk in Northumberland’s high moors. The first is the big landscape that seemingly goes on and on, meeting equally big skies above. The second is the lack of people. This is a landscape for walking in solitude, away from the crowds, with peace and quiet accompanying the wildlife and the beautiful landscape.
The walk starts near the shooting lodge at Langleeford where a track takes you into the tight valley that sits below The Cheviot. The focal point is Harthope Linn waterfall, a delight that is secreted in the tiniest of gorges and is all the better for it, allowing a close encounter with the rush of the water as it tumbles over the rock. From the fall the walk ascends a series of hills and fells that form a route to The Cheviot.
This is a walk that is not only well away from the crowds but also has fine views across Northumberland and across the border into Scotland. From the summit of The Cheviot the route follows a leisurely descent back into Langleeford.
1
NT953225 From the car park by the junction of Hawsen Burn and Harthope Burn walk south-west down the tarmac lane. At the hamlet of Langleeford bear right onto an unmade track following Harthope Burn upstream. Ignore the concession path to Scald Hill on the right, and maintain a south-west heading passing through several gates to reach the isolated farmstead at Langleeford Hope.
2
NT932208 Keep to the right of the buildings to cross the ford, emerging from the trees into open moorland. If the ground is boggy or the burn in spate a higher path can be taken across the moor above the valley floor from this point. If all is well, keep to the path, passing the sheep pens and coming to a second confluence of streams. Cross the one coming down from the northwest and take the path right to the stream junction, then scale the small slope to continue along Harthope Burn for 140m until you come to the waterfall of Harthope Linn 30m away on the left.
3
NT927203 Retrace your steps to the confluence of the two streams and find a suitable spot to ascend the south-eastern bank of Harthope Burn to join the concession path up open moorland, initially south east, then east to a wire fence.
4
NT938202 Follow the fence southsouth-east. It now extends well beyond the OS map, to the top of the hill. Turn left at the fence facing you, and go over the stile to ascend to the triangulation pillar at Hedgehope Hill.
5
NT943197 Retrace your steps and follow the fence line on your left, south-west across the watershed to Combs Fell. The ground here can be boggy and in poor visibility it is easy to become disorientated so keep a close eye on the navigation. At all times keep to the fence line where possible.
6
NT912185 After descending from Comb Fell turn north, rising to north-west following the fence to Scotsman’s Knowe. From the vantage point looking down the valley of Harthope Burn follow the fingerpost sign to ascend the wide path to Cairn Hill. From the cairn cross over the stile and follow the stone slabs along the Pennine
Way to The Cheviot.
7
NT909205 From the triangulation pillar on The Cheviot follow the stone slabs north-east and go over the ladder stile and descend the hill in the same direction until you reach the saddle below Scald Hill. Go over the stile to walk up on to the summit of Scald Hill
8
NT928218 Continue north-east keeping to the fence line as it turns north. After crossing a stile and the shallow valley of New Burn, cross flat open moorland atop Blackseat Hill until you reach a marker post at the foot of Broadhope Hill.
9
NT935229 Turn east and follow first the path then the track down the northern side of Hawsen Burn, keeping to the yellow flagged marker posts. After the track connects with another coming from the north-west go right for 250m.
10
NT950228 Bear right and drop down to ford the burn. Follow the track crossing around the walled plantation, eventually dropping down to a gate that leads on to the tarmac track at Langleeford. Turn left for 250m and return to the car park.