BOAC - Prendwick Circular via Wether Hill - Northumberland

Date	24/10/06
Leader:	Russell S
Distance:	8 miles
Weather:	Fine
Walkers	14
Parking:	On grass verge at Prendwick
Map:	Ordnance Survey OL16

Route Summary - Prendwick, Northfieldhead, Chesters, Wether Hill, Prendwick.

The Cheviots up ahead.

After parking on a grass verge at Prendwick we followed a straight track across fields towards the farm at Northfieldhead. Before reaching the farm the track turned sharp right and continued to the start of the Access Land with Riddles Plantation ahead of us. Here we had a coffee stop, using some logs as seats, with clear views of the Cheviots up ahead.

From here we followed the track through to a lonely farmhouse at Chesters; the house, complete with an outside loo now appears to be used by various groups, including the Scouts, who need a base in the middle of nowhere. We rounded the farmhouse and continued east crossing Ramshaw Burn and then joined a permissive path to have lunch by a dry stone wall near to the fort and settlement at Little Cleugh.

At summit of Wether Hill

We then retraced our steps to rejoin the right of way, passing through some ancient cultivation terraces then, on a permissive path signed as 'Hillfort Trail', climbed steeply up to the settlement at Wether Hill. The area is scattered with evidence of ancient settlements. From Wether Hill we could see the hill fort near where we had lunch, the cultivation terraces as well as the settlement on Wether Hill itself.

We then carried on over the hill to join a track which led us downhill to Prendwick. As usual the next decision was which pub we were going to go to - this time we chose the Cross Keys at Thropton for beers (or coffees) all round!