The Cheviot - 21st June 2010

This was actually a walk I did on my own up the Cheviot in Northumberland from the beautiful Langleford valley.

Cheviot is the highest summit in the Cheviot Hills in North East England, with its summit standing at 2,674ft above sea level.  It was a beautiful day, perfect walking conditions, if not a little sunny.

As usual, I'll post up the pictures.


End of the road at Langleeford valley, the car park is immediately behind me.


Looking up at the opposite side of the valley from Cheviot, the crags on the left is Housey Crag, the steep hill on the right is Hedgehope Hill.  I'd go back a couple of days after this walk and climb that too.  Which was a first for me.


Looking through the gates at the bottom of the walk up to Cheviot. I'd go off to the left, which goes up through some heathland.


Starting up the track, looking back at Langleeford valley.


Same spot as the previous picture, however looked right a little towards Hedgehope Hill.


The track ahead.  Cheviot is approximately 5km ahead, although it's well out of view a lot of that.


Just a picture of the hills. Very pretty!  I love the rolling Cheviot Hills, much lower and less impressive than the Lake District peaks, but every bit as beautiful.  In my opinion.


Actually picking up a little height here, although the photo doesn't really give perspective of that.  Looking to the opposite face of the valley at Housey Crags.  The path you can see running down the opposite side of the hill is misleading.  On a previous walk me and my ex Suzi did there a couple of years ago, we decided to take the path down, only to find it's blocked at the bottom, so had to walk back up again.  We weren't happy!


The path is less well defined here, the grassy lead up to the top of Scald Hill is very pretty.  Entirely suitable for new walkers or families.


Making some distance now, once more looking  this is Housey Crag folks!  Not sure why I keep taking photos of it really, probably because it's a good landmark for getting back.


Just able to see the Northumbrian cost in the distance now, I could clearly make out Holy Island, Banburgh Castle and the Farne Islands.  From the top, you can see pretty much the whole coastline all the way down to Blythe.


Cheviot itself just starting to appear over the ridge.  A little more walking, and we'll be on the top of Scald Hill, where there's a very gentle walk along the top to the base of Cheviot, where the more tricky part of the walk starts.


Looking back towards Langlee Ford valley again.


Scald Hill summit.  Made a 90degree turn once reaching the fence.  The fence runs all the way to the top of Cheviot.  It's worth taking a good look around once here, because in bad weather you'd need to rejoin the path down, in cloud, I can imagine it's quite bleak, and would be quite difficult to find any landmarks to get your position.  If you miss the turn off I think you'll hit another fence which is the cook's tour, but you'll get there in the end.


Mysti the dog doing her doggy things, bit of sniffing, bit of running...  Getting very close to the last climb onto the top of Cheviot itself.


Mysti still being Mysti.  Be careful taking dogs up here, make sure they're very well behaved or kept on a lead.  The farmers take a dim view on dogs chasing sheep, or scaring wild life.  I have 100% trust that Mysti will alway behave and not be a nuisance, but you'll often see people with dogs that are just out of control.


Looking to the other side of the valley again, this is Hedgehope, though now not that much higher than us.  At this point to the left is the head of the Langeeford valley.


Well into the main walk up Cheviot, covered quite a bit of distance since the start now.


Finished the big ascent, I really only took photos of neighbouring hills.  In distance is the trig point for Cheviot, just that short walk to go.  There's a flag stone path leading there, and will ultimately join the Pennine way, although I only went to the trig point.  When walking to it, a RAF Tornado jet came very fast over the summit and followed the hills down into College Valley.  Was very impressive!


Had to cross the fence to join the main path.  On the opposite side is Hedgehope Hill.


Mysti doing as she was told and laying down on the flag stones leading to the trig point.


Trig point: 12 o clock...


Should've rotated this picture.  Tilt your head, and you'll see the trig point, again...

Walked a little beyond the trig point to the next fence, so see if I could see College Valley to take some pictures.  Couldn't really... but, I did see a Mysti.


On the way back down now.


Mysti....