THE THREESTONEBURN CIRCUIT

 

 

 

Time to leave the tarmac behind

 

The Walk

 

1. The road into the Breamish Valley, perhaps better known as the Ingram Valley, lies off the A697 less than a mile to the north of the village of Powburn. A delightful 4 mile drive will bring you to Peggy Bell`s Bridge and, once across the river, there is ample roadside parking in the shadow of Ingram Glidders (GR NT996166). The bridge, believed by some to have been named after a young woman who drowned in the river on the 22nd November 1890, was built in 1910 and is an early example of a pre-cast concrete bridge. The word `glidders` means `scree slope` and each year, as part of the local show, the long established Ingram Fell Race climbs this 60 degree slope to the top of Brough Law, before making a rapid descent to the finishing line at Bulby`s Wood. Not for the faint hearted! Time to follow the road as it climbs away from the River Breamish, squeezing between the flanks of Hartside Hill and Knock Hill. On reaching the buildings of Greensidehill, take the bridleway signposted `The Dod and Ilderton Moor` and continue in a north westerly direction, with the Willow Burn below you to your right. Across the burn, on the east side of Hunt Law, lie the remains of a medieval farmstead and an adjoining field system.  At the point where the bridleway splits in two, marked by a directional fingerpost, take the left hand fork and then when you join the Linhope to Ilderton Moor bridleway (GR NT977173) turn right. The impressive looking Cunyan Crags rise away to your left, on the eastern spur of Dunmoor Hill.

 

 

 

From Dod Hill towards the Northumberland coast

 

3. Presently, the distant farmstead of The Dod will come into view, lying to the east of a small belt of trees. Keep with the track, and following the occasional public footpath directional fingerpost, pass to the left of the cottage towards the step stile over the fence and into the trees (GR NT991198). Head straight through the trees and within 50 metres you will be back into daylight and once again crossing a step stile. Cut diagonally across the field, to your left, where yet another step stile will lead you onto a gravel track. Turn left. The views begin to open up as you head in the direction of Threestoneburn Wood. Pass through the ford of the Threestone Burn, or cut across the adjacent footbridge, and then pass through a five bar gate. The track continues towards the wood. Inside the wood lies the isolated Threestoneburn House, a building with a history dating back to the 18^th century. It is a Grade II Listed Building. Nearby, lie the remains of a Bronze Age stone circle consisting of 16 stones of local pink granite. Only four of these stones are still standing, two of which still show evidence of the packing stones that were pushed in around their base to help keep them upright. You do not follow this track, instead turn immediately right (GR NT983202) to pick up the quad track which winds towards the top of Dod Hill.

 

 

 

The track to Housey Crags with the Cheviot beyond

 

5. Still more crags to come as you now leave Langlee Crags, in the direction of Housey Crags, via a thin sheep trace. Very quickly you will join a quad track where you will turn right downhill as far as a gravel track. Here you turn left. Continue with this track, through a five bar gate, until you reach a directional fingerpost. At this point turn left to climb up to and behind Housey Crags (GR NT957218). Listed by Tony Hopkins in his book, `The Cheviot Hills. A Sense of Wilderness` as one of his six favourite crags, these are probably the most visited in Northumberland. They appear at their most dramatic when viewed from the Harthope Valley. Behind, and on slightly higher ground, lie Long Crags. As you climb, aided by further directional fingerposts, to and across the north west edge of the crags you will be passing close to the remains of a Roman Age farmstead, standing on a natural terrace below an outcrop of rock. Continue to follow the path across the top of the crags and at the southern end go over the stile. You are now on Kelpie Strand, a stretch of moorland leading to the steep slopes of Hedgehope Hill. Follow the path, aided by further fingerposts, across potentially damp ground and then begin the climb of this, the second highest of the Cheviot Hills. Take time as you go, to admire the view back down to the Harthope Valley and beyond to the wild Northumberland coast. The summit is topped with a large cairn, incorporating a number of wind protecting shelters, wrapped around, at 714 metres, a triangulation pillar (GR NT944198). It is a fine hill, considered by many to be amongst the best in Northumberland. You can now judge for yourself.

 

 

 

From Cunyan Crags towards Brough Law and Knock Hill

 

7. Return to the fence and follow this as it turns eastwards and then downhill through a single gate. There are excellent views straight ahead to the granite tors of Cunyan Crags as you continue to descend over easy ground. On reaching the crags (GR NT976182), if time and energy allow, have a scramble around before continuing with the fence through the rocks and downwards. When the fence meets with another one, you will recognise the stile (now to your left) from your outward journey, it is only a matter of turning right and retracing your steps back to the buildings of Greensidehill. Be sure to follow the main bridleway until eventually turning left to head back towards the farm. Once again on the tarmac road, turn left and a short relaxed stroll will bring you back to the dark and imposing scree of Brough Law. You will certainly feel that you have been for a walk in the hills.

 

 

 

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NEXT: FORAY INTO SCOTLAND

 

Devised, written & photographed: Geoff Holland 2006