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Hethpool to Kirknewton Circular Walk.

Introduction

This walk starts at Hethpool in the College Valley and follows a path through the hills to Kirknewton Village. The return leg of the walk follows the College Burn back to Hethpool. At Kirknewton a visit to the church makes an excellent halfway break for those interested in local history.

Total distance is about 7 miles and includes walking on paths, moors, tracks and tarmac roads.

Parking - There is a small car park beyond the cottage at Hethpool past a small wood.

Toilets - None - nearest are at the bus station in Wooler, Kirk Yetholm or Coldstream.

View along the College Valley
View along the College Valley.

Kirknewton Church.
Kirknewton Church.

Walk

1) From the car park follow the road back to the cottages at Hethpool.

The road to Hethpool from the car park.
The road to Hethpool from the car park.

Cottages at Hethpool.
Cottages at Hethpool.

 

2) On the right, just before the bend in the road is a track with a cattlegrid opposite the end cottage. A footpath sign says "Old Yeavering 2.5 miles"

Cottages at Hethpool.
Cottages at Hethpool.

Cattlegrid and track opposite the cottages.
Cattlegrid and track opposite the cottages.

 

3) Turn right along this track and follow it downhill to a wooden bridge that crosses the College Burn.

Track down to the College Burn.
Track down to the College Burn.

Bridge over the College Burn.
Bridge over the College Burn.

 

4) Cross the bridge and turn left along a narrower track which soon crosses a small stream. It is likely to be muddy here, especially after rain.

The path to Kirknewton.
The path to Kirknewton.

View across the valley to Hethpool.
View across the valley to Hethpool.

 

5) There are fine views back across the College Valley to Hethpool from this part of the track.

View across the valley to Hethpool.
View across the valley to Hethpool.

View across the valley to Hethpool.
View across the valley to Hethpool.

 

6) The track soon enters a forest where it is much darker, but a fine view of the hills ahead soon appears at the edge of the forest.

Leaving the forest.
Leaving the forest.

View to Easter Tor and Yeavering Bell.
View to Easter Tor and Yeavering Bell.

 

7) Cross the stile beside a muddy gateway onto a path which now leads across open moorland with views towards Easter Tor on the right and across the College Burn to The Bell and White Hill on the left.

View along the path from the forest.
View along the path from the forest.

View back along the path to the forest and College Valley.
View back along the path to the forest.

   
Easter Tor
Easter Tor
The Bell
The Bell

 

8) The path soon reaches the edge of the woods that line the College Burn. At this point wayfinding can be a bit confusing as there are two paths. One through the woods and one that heads up towards Easter Tor. A third leads down to the College Burn and is not the correct route to follow, but could provide a shortened walk back to Hethpool.

View towards the valley and College Burn.
View towards the valley and College Burn.

A choice of paths.
A choice of paths.

   
Straight ahead?
Straight ahead? - probably the right path.
We chose this one up towards Easter Tor.
We chose this one up towards Easter Tor.

 

9) We followed the path towards Easter Tor although it may not be the best route and we saw another walker who took the other path.

View back to the valley and The Bell.
View back to the valley and The Bell.

View across wood to The Bell.
View across the woods to The Bell.

 

10) This was still a pleasant route and we soon crossed a burn and walked up to a gate that leads out onto open moors again.

After crossing the stream, the gate.
After crossing the stream, the gate.

Back on the waymarked path.
Back on the waymarked path.

 

11) From here the path ahead is clearly visible and soon becomes a well trodden way-marked trail.

The lower slopes of Easter Tor.
The lower slopes of Easter Tor.

Easy to follow path.
Easy to follow path.

   
View across the College Valley.
View across the College Valley.
The path passes between some lone trees.
The path passes between some lone trees.

 

12) The views back along the College Valley from here are tremendous and well worth pausing to admire.

View back along the path to the College Valley.
View back along the path to the College Valley.

Path entering a small forest.
Path entering a small forest.

 

13) After a while the trail enters a forest and soon emerges as a track with the farm buildings at Torleehouse ahead.

The track after the small forest.
The track after the small forest.

Approaching Torleehouse.
Approaching Torleehouse.

 

14) Follow this track downhill with views of Yeavering Bell on the right and across the River Glen Valley ahead.

The downhill track passes Yeavering Bell.
The downhill track passes Yeavering Bell.

Yeavering Bell
Yeavering Bell

   
Easy walking along this track.
Easy walking along this track.
View back to Yeavering Bell.
View back to Yeavering Bell.

 

15) On the opposite side of the valley a large monument can be seen on top of one of the hills.

Approaching Old Yeavering.
Approaching Old Yeavering.

View across the River Glen Valley.
View across the River Glen Valley.

This is almost the halfway point, the walk is continued on a second page.
To follow the second part of the walk please click here

 


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