The College Valley is one of best kept secrets of the Cheviots. We had a clear, sunny day and were rewarded with many spectacular views along the way.
From the car park we turned left and walked along the College Valley Road for about 0.4 miles. Immediately after the plantation on the right we turned right up the waymarked path which followed a fence around the trees and up the hill.
At the end of the plantation, near a dry stone wall and gate we took a left fork, signposted 'Hillfort Trail', to climb Great Hetha. On the way up we paused regularly to take in the view - and catch our breath! A short, steep climb but well worth the effort. Well that's what I thought but my words of encouragement " It'll be worth it when you get to the top - there's great views" were met by murderous looks!
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Click photo for a larger view. |
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From Great Hetha, one of the most impressive of the College Valley hill forts, there are panoramic views of the College Valley and the high hills of the Cheviots. Many of the stones from the rampart still lie where they fell, so it was easy to imagine the size of the massive walls.
We paused here for a breather and a coffee stop. It was generally agreed that the climb was worth it! |
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From the southern edge of the fort the waymarked path could be seen snaking downhill in a south west direction. We followed the path towards Trowupburn, the route soon curving to the right and descending more steeply. Here we headed for a gap between the dry stone wall and the collection of 7 or 8 trees to reach a stile which we crossed before turning left onto the track. Trowupburn farm soon came into view over the brow of the hill.
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At the farm the track became rougher. We passed through a gate, with the farm building on the left then through another gate. Here there is a signpost pointing right to the 'Border Ridge'. We took this path, initially climbing gently uphill, keeping the wire fence to the left but soon a path, a wide grassy track, branched to the right.
This wide grassy path climbed high up on the side of Trowup Burn and Wide Open valleys giving wonderful views of the Cheviot Hills to the south. |
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At Wideopen Head several paths met up. Care had to be taken not to take the obvious path beside the fence - instead we walked straight ahead through the gate. After a while the three Eidon Hills near Melrose came into view.
After Maddies's Well the path curved to the right. The path was not very clear but we headed towards the dry stone wall keeping the wall to the left until we reached a stile in the wall. This took us out of 'Access Land' to join the Pennine Way, walking in a north-west direction.
Where the Pennine Way and St. Cuthbert's Way crossed we turned right onto St Cuthbert's Way walking back towards the dry stone wall. Here we crossed over a stile in the wall to return to the 'Access Land ' where we had good views of the Cheviot Hills in the distance and Eccles Cairn on the left. The ground became boggy in places as the path neared the woodland.
We crossed over a stile to enter the conifer wood. Care was needed here to keep on the correct path but it wasn't too difficult as it is a well travelled route, being on St. Cuthbert's Way. On leaving the wood we continued straight ahead across a meadow towards a track that could be seen in the distance.
Mick worries that his van may have caught fire! |
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We then passed through a gate and followed the track down to Elsdonburn where, after walking through the farm, we turned right onto a well surfaced track. Soon Great Hetha and Little Hetha come into view.
We then turned right onto the single track road back to the car park at Hethpool, passing some pretty estate cottages on the right.
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