The River Coquet cuts through the Cheviot Hills as it winds its way through endless miles of wild and empty countryside. From its remote source at the Roman camp of Chew Green to its arrival where the golden beaches of Northumberland collide with the North Sea, this is a truly beautiful river. This walk starts where the river meets the Usway Burn at Shillmoor and then climbs high into the Cheviot Hills before descending, initially along an ancient drovers road and finally down the strangely named Copper Snout.

2. Return to the fence and descend, first in a northerly and then in a north westerly direction on a sometimes boggy path. As you begin to lose height you will have excellent views down to the isolated farms of Barrowburn and Windyhaugh and beyond to Windy Gyle and the Border ridge. Cross the fence at the gate (NT 873101) where it meets another one and continue along a faint track until fairly level ground is reached. At this point you will need to strike out across the grassy col towards Kyloe Shin and the unnamed hill above. There is no obvious path to the top of this hill, although sheep traces abound. You will need to choose your own route and to seek out the highest ground at 433metres by continuing in the same general direction as you have come, bearing slightly to your right as you climb. Once reached (NT 877113), continue along the flat top until, to the north west, you can see the forest fence below with a ladder stile, a five bar gate and the tree free top of Middle Hill popping out, like a bald head, from the forest. Head down the nose of the hill on a clear track to the gate and go over the stile into the forest. Do not follow the main track down through the forest to Fairhaugh but take instead the track to your left heading towards the top of Middle Hill. Before this is reached the track veers to the right and falls downhill to join a track coming in on the right from Fairhaugh. Turn left and in a short while emerge out of the forest. Follow the quad track across the small hill immediately in front of you (NT 874134) until you reach the gravel road leading to Uswayford farm. This is probably the most remote farm in the Cheviot Hills and was, when Tomlinson wrote his “Comprehensive Guide to Northumberland “ in 1888, a shepherd`s hut.

4. On reaching the Uswayford road cross over and head south over the stile, descending to the wooden bridge over the Usway Burn. From this delightful spot you now climb gradually across the lower slopes of Yarnspath Law to the Kidland Forest. You are on Clennell Street, the 12 mile cross border track used over the centuries by drovers, peddlers, reivers and smugglers and which runs from Alwinton to Cocklawfoot in Scotland. You enter the Kidland Forest (NT 879128) , planted between 1950 and 1970 on land assigned  in 1181 by the Cistercian  Abbey of Newminster ( near Morpeth ) to monks and their servants for the grazing of sheep, and continue for a further 2 miles straight ahead along Clennell Street. For the second mile you have the forest on your left and open countryside on your right. Along this stretch there are three arrowed finger posts, one on your right and two on your left. Leave the track on your right when you reach the second finger post on your left (NT 897106) and head across boggy ground, crossing two stiles, to Copper Snout and a glorious downhill walk of almost 2 miles on a clear path back to the River Coquet. The views are outstanding. Once in the valley, cross the Usway Burn (again!) by the dilapidated concrete bridge, passing Shillmoor on your right and head back to your car.