This section climbs into the Cheviots following good moorland paths before descending to the delightful town of Wooler.
Paths, quiet roads, moorland can be boggy underfoot and exposed in bad weather.
Bus to Wooler and Kirk Yetholm.
Kirk Yetholm.
From Kirk Yetholm take the minor road heading east uphill from the information board on the village green. Pass the houses (note the large collection of walking boots outside one - this is also the end point of the Pennine Way) and follow the road until it descends steeply to the Halter Burn. After the cattle grid bear left to cross the burn on a bridge and climb directly uphill just right of the stone wall.
The grassy path now traverses the side of Green Humbleton; there's a fort on its summit which can be seen from further up as you keep following the largest grassy path. Soon the route leaves the Pennine Way to fork left and head east to reach the Scottish/English border, marked with a sign and gate. There are good views of the rolling countryside as the route descends to a plantation. After crossing a burn (Tuppie's Sike) head over a stile into the dense forest, take care finding the route keeping to the places where the trees have been trimmed and following yellow arrows. Another stile leads into a field, keep straight ahead to descend to a gate and follow a mud track up to another track, keep left here to reach Elsdonburn.
Turn left after the house to pass in front of the barn and down to the road which is followed down the valley. Keep straight on when another road branches right. At the road, after the cattle grid, turn right to reach the houses at Hethpool. Take the track on the left opposite the first row of houses and cross the College Burn on the bridge and immediately bear left through gorse bushes to follow a track up the hillside.
After passing through a small forestry plantation, a stile leads to open ground. Follow the grassy path to reach another stile, turn right after this, cross a burn, and climb gently with lovely views opening up behind. A gate leads to a rough track and another gate before Torleehouse is passed. Watch out for a turning off the road onto a track on the right heading uphill next to a stone wall. After a gate and a further climb another stile leads onto open land.
Continue climbing, keeping to the wider grassy path when another path forks left towards the hill of Yeavering Bell which is also topped by an iron age fort. Go through a gate onto heather moorland, staying on the wide path until a signed junction where the route forks left onto the narrower path. Boggy in places, this section can be exposed in poor weather but in good conditions provides extensive views and a more remote setting than much of the route. At another junction keep straight ahead eventually reaching a stile and gate.
Descend towards the edge of a foresty plantation keep to the right of this to join a track. Follow this through a gate and then branch off left to cross boggy ground and a cairn. Bear left onto a path keeping to the left of a wall until a gateway leads to the other side and the path continues soon joining a bigger path and keeping straight ahead to cross the grouse moor with good views of Black Law, Harehope Hill and Humbleton Hill.
After a gate the route descends, keeps a stone wall on the left, and after a gate on the left swings right through a second gate to cross grassy ground towards pine trees. The path through the trees emerges at the car park and picnic area at Wooler Common. It is possible to short cut by heading left along the road here, but the route of St Cuthbert's Way provides a more interesting approach to Wooler. Cross the car park and the road and once over the stile follow the path uphill.
The path climbs through braken and bears left to aim for the top corner of the forestry. Here a gate leads to a path which heads alongside and through the trees before it emerges with views to an ancient fort. Follow the widest grassy path over the undulating ground until it bears left towards a cottage. Head downhil to cross the stream and reach the cottage and track. Follow the track downhill and when it reaches the road turn right to follow it into the centre of Wooler. Here there is a community-owned Youth Hostel, shops, hotels, B&Bs and buses.
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