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
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.
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Rodhumphreys
- Location: Rossendale
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