We travelled to Wooler last Friday, we had 2 nights booked in a pod. We broke the journey up a little by stopping at Lordenshaw, near Rothbury to go over the Simonside Hills. The weather wasn't bad, it was dry, not that windy but the views were a little hazy. Our first hill was The Beacon. The path has had more pitching done here since the last time I was here.
The Beacon ahead
Dove Crag in the distance
Squeaky was enjoying the walk but she was getting a little over excited when grouse started flying about.
Rock formations on Dove Crag
There have been a lot of trees cut down in the forest below since my last visit and it does look a lot different.
On the way to Old Stell Crag
They had started paving this the last time I was here and there is now a continuous paved path to Old Stell Crag and the permissive path that went to the right of the crag is now fenced off for erosion control.
Interesting shaped rocks at Old Stell Crag
I love Old Stell Crag, the rocks are interesting and always remind me of the Peak District.
A cave in the crags
Dove Crag from Old Stell Crag
Simonside summit ahead
A nice place for lunch
We found a rock that protected us from the worst of the wind and had some lunch.
Icy pool at Old Stell Crag
The Cheviot is the highest hill in this hazy view from Simonside
It was nice to have a little sunshine and blue sky.
Old Stell Crag, Dove Crag and The Beacon from Simonside
We descended steeply from Simonside, much steeper than I remembered and joined the forest road turning left and on the right of way to Tosson Hill. Trees have been felled here and the walk is not how I remembered it but I did recognise the fence when we reached it.
Tosson Hill ahead
Through the gate we followed the right of way toward Tosson Hill. The path as I remembered it led to the rocks at Ravens Heugh but I was wrong this path we were on bypassed the rocks. There had been other paths leading to the right, we should have been on that one.
The Cheviots from the path to Tosson Hill
We almost reached Tosson Hill but we were fed up of the underfoot conditions, it was boggy peat and very tiresome. We turned around and went to see the rocks at Ravens Heugh.
Rocks at Ravens Heugh
The path here doesn't seem as well used as it used to be but perhaps it is my memory that is wrong!
On the way back toward Simonside
We debated going over the Simonside Ridge again back to the car but we took the slightly longer route down the footpath and forest road to the Simonside Car park instead.
On the way down through the forest
I wonder if these trees will still be here on our next visit?
Clearer views of the Cheviot Hills on our way back to Lordenshaw
Once at the car park at Simonside we walked along the road to Lordenshaw. I really enjoyed coming back here, it was a walk I did a lot when I lived in the north east. Our route was Lordenshaw - The Beacon - Dove Crag - Old Stell Crag - Simonside - near Tosson Hill - Ravens Heugh - Simonside Car Park - Lordenshaw. 7.75 miles and 418m ascent.
We drove to Wooler and our pod.
We unpacked our gear, had some food and wine and relaxed knowing the weather could do what it liked overnight, we were safe in the pod.