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I arrived on a cold bright morning around 8.30, having driven down from Edinburgh most of the way in the dark. The final bit on the single track road to Langleeford was rather icy. Given the gradient of sections of that road I had some concern about driving out again, should conditions worsen. But it was forecast to be a nice, if cold day, so I tried to put such thoughts out my mind as I set off.
Storm Bert had passed through a few days prior, and the snow that lasted barely a day in town could still be seen on the higher ground here. I headed up Scald Hill, with the snow starting at around 500m, though coverage wasn't complete. Continuing on up The Cheviot, it got deeper, and everything was completely white. Though the line of the track was visible as a void in the lumpy snow-covered heather, the going became harder, with the depth of the snow impossible to tell until walked on.
As the gradient flattened out, the Pennine Way started, and with concentration it was possible to keep on this through the snow up to the summit trig, and so avoid the worst of the bog.
- Hedgehope Hill in view form the off
- The Cheviot viewed from Scald Hill
- Ascending the Cheviot
- Looking across at Hedgehope Hill
- Approaching the summit of The Cheviot, and playing "Spot the Pennine Way"
- summit trig
I continued on down to Scotsman's Cairn. My route would take me south here, across to the other side of the valley for the return trip. But first I continued on down the Pennine Way and across the border to Hangingstone Hill. The snow had been blown into drifts more on this side, and I lost the path completely for much of it. There's not much to recommend this detour, unless you're aiming to bag the Donald Top, as I was doing. It's lower than the hills around it so doesn't feel like much of a "top", and I suppose wouldn't be considered one had it not been just over the border. I had intended to visit the actual hanging stone it is named for, but didn't bother looking for it as it was almost certainly lost under the snow.
I trudged back up to Scotsman's cairn, at least able to use my own foot holes in the snow to ease the way. Walking through the snow was taking it's toll, and I was pretty tired already, so stopped for a seat at the cairn.
- View SE
- Scotsman's Cairn
- Standing in Scotland on Hangingstone Hill, with England to the north, east and south
I continued on down to the head of the valley, aiming for Comb Fell. I lost the path completely for most of this, but followed the fence line down without too much difficulty. Starting to climb again, I seriously considered giving up on the remaining two hills and instead heading straight down into the valley and back to Langleeford. After this brief wobble, and having found a reasonable path again, I decided to continue on up Comb Fell. Though not much of an ascent, going was slow, with many boggy peat hags, as noted in other reports. The difficulty was added to by the snow covering everything, so that it was difficult to tell where the wet ground was. I developed the rule of thumb that if I could see the shape of grasses under the snow then it was probably safe to walk on. This didn't stop me form getting wet feet on numerous occasions though.
There was nothing much to see from the summit of Comb Fell except the next hill - Hedgehope Hill - and the wind was picking up, so I didn't stop long.
- On Comb Fell looking at Hedgehope Hill
- Ascending Hedgehope Hill
I continued down the other side and up Hedgehope Hill. I reached the large cairn, and the wind was much stronger now, and bitter. I carried on down the steep northern side of the hill. This was more difficult that I had anticipated - the track was visible, but too slippery and I mostly walked on the heather. Once I'd got down and pleased to be out of the wind and snow finally, I stopped for a belated lunch.
- Hedgehope Hill summit
- Looking back the way I'd come over Comb Fell
- View south
- Steep descent to Langleeford
The stretch between the foot of the hill and Long Crags was very boggy. Walking through Long Crags and Housey Crags was pleasant enough though, and from there it was a short descent on good paths back to the start.
- View back to Hedgehope Hill and The Cheviot
- Approaching Long Crags
- Housey Crags
- Last look at The Cheviot
- Bridge over the Harthope Burn, and back to the start
The temperature had risen since the morning and much of the ice had melted on the road, so getting back to Wooler and the main road back north was no problem in the end.
