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Northumberland-Walks.co.uk - photographic walks in Northumberland.Ingram - Wether Hill - Fawdon - Ingram WalkIntroduction We started this walk from the car park beside the bridge over the River Breamish at Ingram. There is another car park further up the valley that we could also have used. The route we followed took us past Ingram Village and up the track to Wether Hill where we made a short detour to the top. This track continues to Prendwick but we crossed the valley on a path leading to Great Ryle. After crossing the valley we turned left towards Old Fawdon Hill and Fawdon, where we then crossed between East Hill and West Hill, back to Ingram. Distance - Approx. 7 miles. Parking - Car Park at Ingram (NOT the one at the Visitor Centre / Church). Toilets - Ingram Visitor Centre and at car park further up the valley.
Walk 1) On leaving the car park we turned left, then left again at the junction a short distance along the road.
2) This road took us to Ingram where a detour to the Visitor Centre, shop, toilets and church can be made. On the right, along this road, are fine views to Wether Hill, our first destination. Also views to East Hill and West Hill, which we crossed on the way back.
3) Straight opposite the road to the Visitor Centre is the track to Wether Hill, which passes through a gate. We followed this track taking time to pause and admire the views behind us and to either side.
4) After a short distance we reached a gate where the track turned right along a level section, before turning left and uphill again.
5) The track followed a row of trees on the left and open ground on the right. Along this section we enjoyed the fine views across the valley to Dunmoor Hill and back to Ingram.
6) Further on we passed through another gate where the track crossed open ground with the top of Wether Hill straight ahead.
7) Passing through another gate the path now followed the eastern slope of Wether Hill. At this point two RAF Jet Fighters flew overhead and were so low we could see the pilots in the cockpits.
8) A bit further on the track levelled out and we reached a path off to our right. This led to the top of Wether Hill and was a worth while detour for the views.
9) Continuing on after this detour we reached a fork in the track, where we kept to the left of the marker pole.
10) This fairly level section of track took us along the slopes of Cochrane Pike, passing through deep Bracken along the way.
11) The track then started to go downhill with long views as far as the Simonside Hills ahead and across the valley to Old Fawdon Hill on our left.
12) Eventually we reached a gate (after ignoring a steep path on the left through very deep Bracken). Passing through the gate we kept a lookout for a small stream which we soon reached.
13) After we crossed the stream we turned immediately left onto a path leading towards the corner of a wood.
14) Just before the wood we crossed the stream again and walked uphill to a gate.
15) We passed through this gate and turned immediately left through another gate onto the path towards Old Fawdon Hill.
16) Climbing steadily uphill we passed through yet another gate (many on this route!)
17) After this gate the path levelled out a bit and passed onto open moorland, with a few marker posts here and there.
18) Ahead was a wood with an old hut which the path headed towards and which we passed on our left.
19) The path followed the east side of Old Fawdon Hill and started to lose height, heading towards another wood on our right. The wood was between Fawdon Hill and Gibb's Hill.
20) At the wood the path turned away to our left and followed a fence line with fine views across to Gibb's Hill and the Ancient Hill Fort.
21) At this point the path shown on our Ordinance Survey map seemed to have become disused and now followed the contours of Old Fawdon Hill and West Hill instead of going straight ahead. This was a farm track and an easier route so we followed it.
22) We reached a gate with a track to West Hill and ignored this, instead bearing right, towards the valley, with more great views across to the Hill Fort.
23) Another gate soon appeared with cows standing guard on the other side! Passing through the gate and the cows we made our way across and down through this field towards another gate where the path could be more distinctly seen.
24) We followed the path with a hedge on our right and West Hill ahead.
25) A short distance further on we turned sharp right with the path becoming more of a track and Fawdon seen in the distance.
26) Through another gate, past curious sheep we headed on towards the farm at Fawdon, where we reached - another gate!
27) We turned sharp left at this gate and straight to another one. From here the track ahead took us up towards the area between East Hill and West Hill.
28) We paused here for a while to admire the views across towards Powburn and watch the shepherds with their dog expertly moving sheep from the farm into a nearby field.
29) As we continued up the track we reached the top of the last uphill section of this walk. Views of Dunmoor Hill could be seen straight ahead.
30) Also straight ahead on both sides of the track was a herd of cows happily resting and seemingly enjoying the warm afternoon. In the middle was a huge bull - he kept one eye on us but didn't even twitch his tail as we passed him. We stopped to take his photo of course!
31) From here we followed the path steeply downhill with fine views ahead to Ingram and across the valley.
32) At the bottom of the steep section was another gate which we passed through and into a field with more cows. No big bull this time but plenty of small ones with their mothers, all watching us.
33) After passing through yet another gate we turned left onto the road towards Ingram.
34) From here we walked along the road through yet another gate, back to the car park, making another detour to the Visitor Centre along the way.
Notes
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