The beautiful and remote College Valley runs, almost straight as an arrow, from the tiny hamlet of Hethpool to the very edge of England`s most northerly county. It has been described as one of the most awe-inspiring valleys in Northumberland and history oozes from the hills which roll down from the border. These are quiet hills which reach out towards the 601 metre high summit of the Schil, a hill which proudly greets tired Pennine Way walkers on the final few miles of their arduous journey. On this walk to and from that majestic summit, you will cross the little visited tops of Loft Hill, Saughieside Hill and Madam Law as well as the slightly more popular Black Hag, White Law, The Curr and Great Hetha. You will be utterly besotted.

2. Pass through the five bar gate and begin your climb towards the top of Loft Hill, which lies to your left. Keeping the forest edge within sight, you will need to choose the best route up the steep and pathless hillside. There will be some respite as you reach the saddle between Sinkside Hill and your first hill of the day. Nearby, within the forest, there is evidence of an Iron Age settlement. Continue to follow the fence as it bends to your left and, after approximately 100 metres, turn away to your right to head upwards to the 416 metre top of Loft Hill (GR NT877257). From the small summit cairn there are good views. Leave Loft Hill in a south westerly direction, heading for the five bar gate and a rough track through the forest. Once over the second gate, continue straight ahead through a recently harvested section of the forest as far as the third five bar gate. At this point be sure not to follow the direction indicated by the Public Footpath arrow but instead continue in a south westerly line up the rough and trackless slope to the 478 metre high summit of Saughieside Hill (GR NT868249). The actual summit is at the southern end of the flat top and from this airy spot there are extensive all round views.

4. You must now retrace your steps for one mile of easy downhill walking as far as the stile over the border fence. Cross back over into Scotland and follow the track which is signposted  `Pennine Way Kirk Yetholm 4½ miles`. Where the track splits into two, just below Black Hag and the obvious Corbie Craig, be sure to follow the left hand spur signposted the Pennine Way low level alternative route. On reaching the five bar gate turn left and, after first dropping downhill slightly, follow the track and the adjacent fence which rise gradually towards the 564 metre top of The Curr, a splendidly bulky Scottish hill. When the track begins to bend away to the left, head straight on across flatter ground to the summit triangulation point (GR NT850233). From here there are wonderful views in all directions. Retrace your steps back to the five bar gate. Ignore the gate and continue straight ahead up the heather covered slope as far as the small gate (GR NT857237) and the Pennine Way high level route. Go through the gate. The next 1½ miles of walking over the grassy surface of Steer Rig is one of the highlights of the day. As you swing along, straddling the valleys of the Halter and Trowup Burns and with superb views it will be difficult not to feel a sense of elation in these high windswept Cheviot Hills. Back down to earth with a bump and it is soon time for the short lung bursting climb to the 430 metre top of White Law. Take time to enjoy the views back over to Black Hag. At this point you must part company with the Pennine Way, which now turns towards its final goal of Kirk Yetholm.

6. Turn right along the road and then cross the step stile to follow the steep permissive footpath which leads you, not always obviously on the ground, to the top of Great Hetha. The 343 metre high summit (GR NT885274) stands at the north eastern end of the hill. From here there are panoramic views of the College Valley and the surrounding hills. It is a hill of great historical interest. To the west of the summit there are the remains of a Roman period settlement, consisting of at least eight hut circles laid out along a series of terraces cut into the lower slopes of the hill. On the summit itself, there was a strongly defended Iron Age hillfort surrounded by two ramparts of earth and stone. There is an entrance, on the north west side, with traces of an in- turned bank where it passes through the inner rampart. There was also an Iron Age hillfort on Little Hetha, less than ½ mile to the north. Leave the summit to the north east, following the `Hillforts Trail` fingerposts towards the small plantation which lies adjacent to the valley road. Keep to the right of the plantation and on reaching the road (GR NT890273), turn left and a gentle stroll will soon bring you back to Hethpool and the end of an exhilarating walk in these quiet border hills.