walkhighlands

Windy Gyle, Bloodybush and Cushat Law

Hewitts: Bloodybush Edge, Cushat Law, Windy Gyle

Date walked: 13/01/2024

Time taken: 5.4 hours

Distance: 26.5km

Ascent: 1044m


Windy Ghyl to Cushat Law from Barrowburn.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


The Cheviot Hills represent a relatively long drive from Lancashire and I recall considering, when heading up there for the first time in October, that perhaps I should attempt the near 40k circular to take in all six Cheviot Hewitts at one pass. Well, I am glad I didn't because I would have missed the rather spectacular approach to the area driving along the single track road from Alwinton to Barrowburn following the Coquet Valley. The early morning weak sunshine in January and the fast flowing river just made for a beautiful sight in this remote area of the northeast, and I hadn't even got out of the car yet.

The car park for the Barrowburn area is large (and free) and provides the best start to what I was expecting to be a very demanding route. I chose to walk along the road and follow the the route past Rowhope, continuing northwards gently uphill along a fine green track towards the cloud shrouded summit of Windy Gyle and the border fence with Scotland. Fortunately, unlike some borders in the world, this was a very friendly fence with a rather nice stile, just in front of the trig point. There then followed a short period where I amused myself attempting to stand with one foot in either country. I would rather expect that this is a good place to be on a warm spring day but, given that there was very little visibility, I soon left the top following the fence, mostly along stone flags for about 2km before turning right on a clearly marked path which heads down between the woods on the southern slopes of the hill.

Now this is worth noting. I read a report from about 2015 which helpfully indicated that the path bearing left through the pine forest was nearly impossible to follow because of the tree routes. So, on reaching the footpath sign for Uswayford, I was already in a cautious frame of mind...... but it was 9 years later! Suffice to say that the path is once again impassable due to major tree falls following the Autumn gales.

I therefore cut over the top of Hazely Law and dropped sharply down to join the 4x4 track which heads over to Uswayford. This is a really remote spot, but very attractive. Care needs to be taken to navigate around, rather than through the farm, so take the footbridge and not the track in towards the buildings. The route emerges just to the back of the farm, crosses a ford and then heads towards a stile in the fence. basically, you follow the line of the fence south east heading up on to the lower slopes of Bloodybush Edge. After a short uphill climb, and just before a forested area, another fence comes in from the west which can then be followed eastward, with a little bit of north, up the final slopes of Bloodybush to the trig point at the top. For me it was a wet climb, not muddy, just lots of water lying on the grassy surface. I found a farm buggy track, which was often faint, but provided an easier walk to the top rather than staying too close to the fence.

If the weather is clear, Cushat Law is clearly visible just under two miles away. Again, I followed the fence, keeping to the right and heading down towards the forest on the lower slope of Cushat. There is a faint tread all the way, always wet but relatively mud free. I think I was getting tired at this point as the top took longer to reach than I was expecting, but it is quite a long approach. Now, having reached the top of Cushat, about 35 minutes after leaving Bloodybush it is an absolute pleasure to turn to the north and experience the full view of The Cheviot, Comb Fell and Hedgehope. If I had been brave enough to tackle all of the Cheviot Hewitts in one round, my route would now lie northwards, down Cushat towards Bleakhope (nice name). However, I had chosen the out and back route towards Uswayford, so I retraced my steps back up to Bloodybush, all the way down to Uswayford and then back along the farm track heading towards the multiple track junction below Hazely Law at Hepden Burn.

There are two route options here, the lower route through the woods or the turn about 1km further west, which heads over Barrow Law on a higher and probably more scenic green path. The path (the Border County Ride), stays high in the main, before dropping sharply down to Barrowburn. In good weather I would definitely recommend this return as the views are quite stunning. Look over your right shoulder and Windy Gyle is clearly visible to the northwest.

Ultimately, this was quite an adventurous route, mostly over good ground, but much more tussocky and very wet underfoot after Uswayford. I found the 'there and back from Bloodybush to Cushat a bit tough, stumbling over the tussocks with cold and wet feet, but I was trying to move fast (for my age) with a pair of trail shoes, Those with good waterproof boots will have a much more enjoyable, and just slightly slower experience of these two hills. The single round of the six Cheviot Hewitts has a certain appeal for a long dry late summer day and I would be very tempted to return for the full 25 mile journey over this very distinctive landscape. I should add that it often looked beautiful with the long shadows created by the mid-winter sunshine.

Click to mark this as a great report. Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).



The Cheviot, Comb Fell, Hedgehope Hill

Attachment(s) Hewitts: Comb Fell, Hedgehope Hill, The Cheviot
Date walked: 16/10/2023
Distance: 16km
Ascent: 923m
Views: 616


Rogan's Seat

Attachment(s) Hewitts: Rogan's Seat
Date walked: 25/06/2023
Distance: 10.9km
Ascent: 558m
Views: 653


Yockenthwaite

Attachment(s) Hewitts: Yockenthwaite Moor
Date walked: 25/06/2023
Distance: 6km
Ascent: 406m
Views: 624


High Spy to Robinson including Dale Head and Hindscarth

Attachment(s) Wainwrights: Dale Head, High Spy, Hindscarth, Robinson
Hewitts: Dale Head, High Spy, Hindscarth, Robinson
Date walked: 23/06/2023
Distance: 13.8km
Ascent: 1188m
Views: 459


From Selside to Grey Crag above Haweswater

Attachment(s) Wainwrights: Branstree, Grey Crag, Selside Pike, Tarn Crag (Far Eastern Fells)
Hewitts: Branstree, Grey Crag, Selside Pike, Tarn Crag
Date walked: 19/06/2023
Distance: 15.6km
Ascent: 947m
Views: 627


Thack Moor, Grey Nag, Black Fell

Attachment(s) Hewitts: Black Fell, Grey Nag, Thack Moor
Date walked: 13/06/2023
Distance: 21.5km
Ascent: 437m
Views: 522


Carrock Fell, High Pike, Knott and Great Calva

Attachment(s) Wainwrights: Carrock Fell, Great Calva, High Pike (Northern Fells), Knott
Hewitts: Carrock Fell, Great Calva, High Pike, Knott
Date walked: 08/04/2023
Distance: 19km
Ascent: 1190m
Views: 498


Pillar to Haycock above Ennerdale

Attachment(s) Wainwrights: Haycock, Pillar, Scoat Fell
Hewitts: Haycock, Pillar, Pillar - Black Crag, Scoat Fell
Date walked: 27/03/2023
Distance: 19km
Ascent: 1190m
Views: 411


Calf Top and Castle Knott from Barbondale

Attachment(s) Hewitts: Calf Top
Date walked: 08/03/2023
Distance: 4.76km
Ascent: 497m
Views: 416

Rodhumphreys


Location: Rossendale
Occupation: Retired University Lecturer
Interests: Walking adventures in Hills and Mountains I probably won't fall off. Coffee and croissants (a morning activity), scones (afternoon), real and craft beers and red wine (evening, but not every evening).
Activity: Mountain Walker
Pub: The Hop, Rawtenstall
Mountain: Crib Goch
Place: Glen Trool
Gear: OS maps App
Member: None as of now
Ideal day out: An epic ridge walk up to 20 miles, or a rather more un-epic ridge walk of 5 to 10 miles with beer or coffee at the end.
Ambition: The English Hewitts

Wainwrights: 95
Hewitts: 154



Filter reports


Statistics

2024

Trips: 1
Distance: 26.5 km
Ascent: 1044m
Hewitts: 3

2023

Trips: 9
Distance: 126.56 km
Ascent: 7336m
Hewitts: 25
Wainwrights 7

2022

Trips: 13
Distance: 257.5 km
Ascent: 11352m
Hewitts: 46
Wainwrights 7

2021

Trips: 5
Distance: 93.7 km
Ascent: 3261m
Hewitts: 11


Joined: Nov 26, 2021
Last visited: Mar 24, 2024
Total posts: 30 | Search posts