No
matter where you walk in the Cheviots or the boundaries of Northumberland you
can guarantee breathtaking views, whether it is the moody and dramatic hills or
the lush green valleys with spider webs of rivers and tributaries. One place which constantly draws me back is
Newton Tors within College
Valley
The
Valley is ringed with remnants of Bronze Age forts and steeped in ‘bloody’
history. Across the years the English
armies have fought the Scottish armies and the Border Revivers have raped and
pillaged on both sides with respect only for the ‘family name’.
This walk begins at ‘Ad Gefrin’ which I have referred to in a previous
blog. As you approach the start you
cannot help but feel dwarfed by the towering bulk of Yeavering Bell. Yeavering Bell is 361m above sea level and
there are two paths which will take you to the remains of the hill fort
situated on the top. There is access
from the south which is a relatively easy climb or the north which is
practically a 1:1 climb (steeper in some parts). I have climbed both and can tell you that the
south path is strenuous but north requires a good supply of oxygen and has the
potential for a heart attack.
As
you leave Ad Gefrin you head towards Old Yeavering and a path which leads you
upwards and onwards. The path
circumvents Yeavering bell, for now, and heads towards Easter and Wester Tors
with heights of 438m and 518m respectively.
As you progress along the path there is a point where is becomes St Cuthbert’s
Way. There are two options either to
carry on walking in the same direction along St Cuthbert’s Way and all points
west or take a sharp left and follow the path to the east. I decided to go east and upwards between
Easter Tor and Yeavering Bell. After a
short while there another path intersects your route which takes you to Wester
Tor and gives you the opportunity to divert to Easter Tor. Both Tors give breathtaking views of the
surrounding countryside. The landscape
is rugged and moody with a continuous wind sweeping across the hills. As you contemplate the views you can easily
fall back in time to another age when life was harsher, bloodier but simpler.
After
leaving Wester Tor you can divert to Easter Tor then continue back to Yeavering
Bell. A brisk climb up the south access
route brings you to the remains of the fort situated across the twin peaks of
the hill. This is an ideal place to
light your camping stove and settle back with a hot cup of tea to raise your
sugar levels before ‘free falling’ down the north access route.
Overall
the walk is approximately 8 miles – hard going in places but definitely worth
the effort.
Ready for the Off !!
Dramatic skys from Easter Tor
Wester Tor in the distance
View from Wester Tor
Wester Tor to Coldburn Hill
Northerly view from Wester Tor
