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Broadhope Hill - Northumberland Walk
Tuesday 23rd April 2024
This was the only forecasted dry day of the week so we made the most of the promised dry conditions and headed to the Harthope Valley to explore an area that was completely new to us. This was a route I had found via a Facebook group and then amended to take in the summit of Cold Law seeing as it had a trig point on it.
Start: Carey Burn Bridge (NT 9755 2499)
Route: Carey Burn Bridge - Carey Burn - Broadstruther - Broadhope Hill - Cold Law (TP) - Carling Crags - Snear Hill - Carey Burn Bridge
Distance: 7 miles Ascent: 527 metres Time Taken: 4 hrs 45 mins
Terrain: Good paths
Weather: Overcast with a cold wind on the summits, warm sunshine later.
Pub Visited: Black Bull Inn, Wooler Ale Drunk: Hadrian Border Brewery, Farne Island
![Harthope Valley Harthope Valley](2024-04-23/harthope.jpg)
From our parking spot in the Harthope Valley we can see both the path we will take out, using the route signed before the bridge and the route back down the clear track on Snear Hill ahead of us.
![Carey Burn Carey Burn](2024-04-23/carey burn.jpg)
Having taken the gate next to the sign we follow the path alongside Carey Burn.
![Harthope Valley Harthope Valley](2024-04-23/harthope1.jpg)
The farmer who had passed us whilst we were getting our boots on had provided us with some entertainment as when he tried to enter his field several sheep had escaped and he'd had some fun trying to get them back into the field without letting more out.
![Carey Burn Carey Burn](2024-04-23/carey burn1.jpg)
The sides of the valley quickly narrowed and the path then cut across the scree slopes of Hart Heugh.
![Carey Burn Carey Burn](2024-04-23/carey burn2.jpg)
Once we were over the scree we met the only person we were to pass all day and in fact we only saw one other couple in the distance at the end of the walk.
![Carey Burn Carey Burn](2024-04-23/carey burn3.jpg)
There was one short, easily managed rocky section around the waterfall and then we found ourselves on a clear easy path as the sides of the valley once again opened up.
![Carey Burn Carey Burn](2024-04-23/carey burn4.jpg)
The path continued to follow Carey Burn as it took us through the edge of the woods at the bottom of Watch Hill.
![Carey Burn Carey Burn](2024-04-23/carey burn5.jpg)
As the path swung around we get our first glimpse of Broadhope Hill at the end of the valley.
![Hart Heugh Hart Heugh](2024-04-23/hart heugh.jpg)
Looking back we can see Hart Heugh, whose slopes we crossed as we walked next to Carey Burn. To the left you can also see where Hell Path joined our route.
![Broadhope Hill Broadhope Hill](2024-04-23/broadhope.jpg)
The path soon reaches open moorland and we get our first view of all of Broadhope Hill.
![Broadhope Hill Broadhope Hill](2024-04-23/broadhope1.jpg)
Ahead of us now we can see both of the hills on our route today, Broadhope Hill to the right and in the centre is Cold Law. Behind them is Hedgehope Hill, which we were relieved to know wasn't on our route, given this is our first hilly walk of 2024 I doubt our legs were up to that much ascent. As I found out later it is the second highest hill in the Cheviots so definitely beyond our very unhill-fit legs.
![Watch Hill Watch Hill](2024-04-23/hart heugh2.jpg)
Looking back we can see Watch Hill and the unnamed rocky outcrop on Great Moor.
![Broadstruther Broadstruther](2024-04-23/broadstruther.jpg)
We follow the broad track that takes us up to Broadstruther, a former farm.
![Broadstruther Broadstruther](2024-04-23/ducks.jpg)
All my research into the walk had mentioned Broadstruther plenty of times, but nobody had mentioned its current residents, maybe they are in temporary residence.
![Watch Hill Watch Hill](2024-04-23/watch hill.jpg)
We followed the track passed Broadstruther as it headed along the valley but soon had to leave it to climb up to the summit of Broadhope Hill. Here pausing to catch our breath looking back as more of Great Moor comes into view.
![Great Moor Great Moor](2024-04-23/great moor.jpg)
Broadhope Hill turned out to be one of those hills that is a long drag that makes you wonder why it is taking so much effort to get up it when it doesn't seem that high. Once we reached the summit we were able to enjoy a very hazy view in the direction of Wooler that just about enabled us to make out the coast.
![The Schil The Schil](2024-04-23/preston hill.jpg)
We had hoped to have lunch at the top of Broadhope Hill but it soon became apparent that the valley and Broadhope Hill had sheltered us from quite a strong and bitter wind. We stayed at the top long enough to have a quick look at the view and take a few photos, here looking across to Preston Hill with The Schil dominating the view behind us.
![The Cheviot The Cheviot](2024-04-23/cheviot.jpg)
Stood on the top we didn't really appreciate what we were looking at and it was only when we sat down further down the hill that we realised we had been looking at The Cheviot.
![Hare Law Hare Law](2024-04-23/hare law.jpg)
Looking across Great Moor to Hare Law from the summit of Broadhope Hill.
![The Schil The Schil](2024-04-23/dunsdale.jpg)
Looking across the College Valley to Dunsdale House and The Schil.
![Cold Law Cold Law](2024-04-23/cold law.jpg)
By the time we left the summit we were debating putting coats, hats and gloves on so we decided to drop down the hill in the hope of finding somewhere more sheltered. Here looking across to Cold Law from our lunch spot.
![Scald Hill Scald Hill](2024-04-23/scald hill.jpg)
We were also able to look across Scald Hill to Hedgehope Hill. Sat looking at our map as we had lunch we began to realise that we had also been looking at The Cheviot, not something we had expected to see today.
![Broadhope Hill Broadhope Hill](2024-04-23/broadhope2.jpg)
After struggling so much going up Broadhope Hill we had debated our route back to the car and were considering missing out Cold Law but once we reached the bottom and the main track we could have followed lunch had helped our legs recover.
![Cold Law Cold Law](2024-04-23/cold law1.jpg)
From the bottom of the hill Cold Law looked like a very gentle climb and so any thoughts of missing it out disappeared.
![The Cheviot The Cheviot](2024-04-23/scald hill1.jpg)
There was only one short steep section going up Cold Law but looking back we soon found ourselves looking across Scald Hill to The Cheviot. We could also see that the cloud was finally starting to break up.
![Preston Hill Preston Hill](2024-04-23/broadstruther1.jpg)
Looking across the valley from Cold Law we can see Preston Hill, Great Moor and Hare Law in the distance.
![Cold Law Cold Law](2024-04-23/trig.jpg)
In order to reach the trig point we had to cross the fence but were rewarded with views across the valley to Hedgehope Hill.
![Carling Crags Carling Crags](2024-04-23/track.jpg)
From the summit we had a choice of routes down to the car but opted for the one taking us to Carling Crags as it didn't involve as steep a descent as the other routes and also followed this track which made the going rather easy.
![Cold Law Cold Law](2024-04-23/cold law2.jpg)
Looking back to Cold Law as we reach Carling Crags.
![Carling Crags Carling Crags](2024-04-23/carling crags.jpg)
By the time we reached Carling Crags the sun was out and we were ready to remove our coats.
![Snear Hill Snear Hill](2024-04-23/snear hill.jpg)
Our route left the track and followed the signed path across Snear Hill, where we were soon to see the only other people we would see on this walk.
![Harthope Valley Harthope Valley](2024-04-23/brands hill.jpg)
It wasn't long before we found ourselves looking down on the Harthope Valley and our car. Across the valley we can see Brands Hill and in the distance Berwick Moor.
![Carey Burn Carey Burn](2024-04-23/carey burn6.jpg)
Back on the road it was a very short walk across the bridge over Carey Burn to the car.
All pictures copyright © Peak Walker 2006-2024