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Lovely walk, sunny day, cool & gentle breeze. Aim was to recce Eglingham/Bewick Moor area, look for route to link to Quarry House and - if time - look at Cateran Hole. Didn't reach the 'hole' but now have better idea of area, so will bag another day.
The rough tarmac road, heading due N from Eglingham to just after Tarry, was unexpectedly and relentlessly steep, but it easesd then levelled from the trig pillar atop Eglingham Moor. The views then began to open up, across the wide, high moor ahead - and behind to Simonside and the Cheviots. From the pillar, it's a hardcored track for a k or so to a gate. After the gate, the track heads NE for Hagden Farm, but the Cateran/Quarry House trail is a quad bike path N.
The going was good, but the dips were boggy, even in the recent dry spell. The aura is stunning! It's a wild, lonely place with no cattle and surpisingly few sheep. Even better, there are really wide ranging views across the plateau of the Moor - and not another soul in sight!!! I headed N towards a fenced, mature, plantation. It would have been a good place to stop, as the collapsed dry stone wall offered a crude picnic area. I pressed on N to a fence, and beyond to a cairn, from which I hoped to be able to identify a path to Quarry House. Sadly there was no obvious route and QH was on the next OS map N so I wasn't able to guarantee navigation. I wasn't too bothered as I'd only come to look for a route and not to land at QH. I was also consoled by great views to the N & NW, across QH Moor, Hepburn Moor and beyond to Ros Castle.
I returned to the fence, to follow it on partial path to the track just below the lower cairn on Cateran Hill. A clear, if narrow path led me to the Summit Cairn. I was now pushing my time limit (to be in time for my lift home) so I had a quick search of the NNW slopes for Cateran Hole. No joy! After a quick lunch, I headed SE to pick up the trail back to Eglingham. The Moor may have little height, but it has it's own magic and is well worth a return
