FOUR CHEVIOT LAWS
The isolated farmstead of Shillmoor
stands where the delightful Usway Burn tumbles into
the twisting River Coquet. Rising to the
Inner Hill en route to Shillhope Law summit
The Walk
1. The village of Alwinton, home to the tiny Rose and Thistle public house,
lies in the Cheviot foothills and is the last village in Coquetdale.
The isolated farmstead of Shillmoor stands 3 miles
further on along the unclassified, single track road in an area once colonised under the monasteries. There is roadside parking
beside the River Coquet immediately before the bridge (NT 884078). Whilst this
area is now used as part of the Army`s dry training
area there is no danger whatsoever, so head on without concern. Cross the
bridge and turn right along the opposite bank of the river, past two houses on
your left. Before reaching the buildings of Shillmoor
turn first left along a slightly rising gravel track. The `Private Road` sign
applies to vehicular traffic only so cross the cattle grid and within 100 metres take the rough track (NT 886078) which climbs away
to your left alongside a stone wall. The track continues to rise close to the
wall and then a fence. You will gain height quickly as the steepening
track heads towards a gate just beyond the crags to your right. From here there
are cracking views to the River Coquet and the neighbouring
hills. You will certainly appreciate the breather. Once through the gate follow
the grassy track along the ridge to the 436 metre top
of Inner Hill (NT 877089). You are now caught between the narrow steep sided
valley of the Usway Burn to the east and the wider
Upper Coquet Dale to the west. Continue across the broad ridge and down to the
boggy col where you need to cross the fence, via a
gate, before climbing on either of the two tracks to the 501 metre summit of Shillhope Law.
This lies just west of the fence and east of a small lough.
In Northumberland, the word `law` simply means `hill` and this is the first,
and the highest, of the four hills named law you will climb on this walk.
2. Follow the fence as it heads downhill in a
north westerly direction with superb views down to the farms of Barrowburn and Windyhaugh and
beyond to the border ridge. At the gate (NT
873101) cross the fence and continue along a faint track over fairly level
and then steeper ground down towards the valley of the Barrow Burn. Eventually,
you will join another, clearer track (NT
870108) which climbs up from the burn and away to your left. This is your
direction of travel, passing through an extremely tight squeeze stile before
descending to and through the ford just in front of the buildings of Barrowburn farm. Keep to the right of the farm and pass
through the gate. At the finger post (NT
867107) take the green track which rises, to your right, up the flanks of
Barrow Law, pausing occasionally to admire the splendid view of the sparkling
River Coquet as it heads downstream past the impressive Shillhope
Law. Keep climbing until the gradient begins, at the 370 metre
contour, to ease and then (NT 867115) head
west across the pathless upper slopes of Barrow Law to the small summit cairn.
Once you have caught your breath be sure to walk approximately 100 metres in a south westerly direction to enjoy the heady
view straight down to the farm of Windyhaugh, once a
mill for the monks of Newminster, and the bridge at Slymefoot, where in the 18th century stood a
notorious public house.
The bridge at Slymefoot
from Barrow Law
3. Return to the cairn and continue generally
in a north easterly direction to rejoin the green track you left to attain the
summit of Barrow Law. Take the track as it heads, over easy ground, north to
Murder Cleugh with distant views to the whaleback of
the Cheviot. Named perhaps after some distant and long forgotten treacherous
act, Murder Cleugh is now engulfed in trees. `Cleugh` in these parts means a narrow cleft or gully with a
watercourse and a peep into the trees will confirm this. Once over the stile
(NT 868132), cross straight over the track and through the gap in the fence on
the opposite side. Ignore the fingerpost and climb in a north westerly
direction up the pathless southern side of Ward Law and on reaching the top (NT
864136) you will, once again, enjoy excellent views of the neighbouring
hills. This is a good place to break into the sandwiches.
4. Leave Ward Law in a north easterly
direction, descending gently to a green track heading downhill from Little Ward
Law and Windy Gyle beyond. Turn right and follow the
track for about 400 metres before turning south east
across the rough, pathless hillside, through an old and dilapidated fence
line, towards the gap in the new fence
running adjacent the gravel track heading north eastwards. This leads to Uswayford, one of England`s most
remote farms, which during severe winters can be cut off from the rest of civilisation for long periods. During the winter of 1940/41
the farm was isolated for 17 consecutive weeks. Turn left (NT 873136) along the track, through the hairpain
bend over the Hepden Burn, and uphill until you reach
the wooden signpost. You are now at the crossroads of
5. Retrace your steps back to the
signpost, where you will need to head due south across the 399 metre top of the Middle (NT 873133), and then down to the
stile leading into the forest. Once inside, follow
the deteriorating track uphill, ignoring the right hand branch, then downhill
through the dark arched avenue of trees to the small footbridge, on your left,
over the Usway Burn. This is a delightful place,
where the burn tumbles over a series of small waterfalls, and for the rest of
your journey the sound of chuckling water will never be far away. Continue over
the bridge and behind the renovated building of Fairhaugh
(NT 876122). Once on the stone track be sure to take the narrow path that heads
to your right alongside the burn and the edge of the forest. Continue along
this path as it hugs the bank of the burn through the very narrow, steep-sided
valley, which only begins to widen as you approach the peaceful farm of Batailshiel Haugh (NT 882101).
This former shepherd`s house, which stands at a
height of 275 metres above sea level, was referred to
in the 13th century charter of Newminster
Monastery as “ the shiel of Henry de Bataile” .The word `shiel`
derives from the Norse meaning `summer pasture` and the word `haugh` means `flat land beside a river/burn`. The path
climbs around the back of the farm, crossing en route the hurrying waters of
Mid Hope, before joining the gravel road from the farm as it twists and turns
down the narrow valley back to Shillmoor farmstead
and the rushing River Coquet.
The path from Barrow Law to Murder Cleugh
|
Distance |
17.7 km.
(11 miles) |
|
Total
Ascent |
780 metres |
|
Grading |
Strenuous |
|
Start
& Key Grid References |
Shillmoor
in |
|
Time |
5 hours |
|
Nearest
Town |
Rothbury |
|
Terrain |
Steep
ascents & descents, grassy paths, some pathless slopes, occasionally
boggy and a stretch of gravel track. |
|
Maps |
OS
Pathfinder (1:25000) 487 & 499. Harveys Superwalker (1:40000) The Cheviot Hills |
|
Accommodation |
Caravan
site at Clennell Hall (Alwinton).
Hotels and guest houses in Rothbury |
|
Public
Transport |
None
(except Thropton) |
|
Tourist
Information |
Rothbury
National Park Centre. Telephone 01669 620887
|
|
NEXT WALK : UPPER BREAMISH
& BEYOND |
Devised, written & photographed: Geoff
Holland 2005