In north most England, close to the Scottish Border, lie the Cheviot Hills. These rounded peaks reaching 815m, betray the casual glance, for they require considerable exertion with much height to climb if a traverse of all three mountains above Harthope Burn the is to be achieved. During that casual glance it may also not be appreciated that these are volcanic peaks, created when lava erupted from the earth's core, yet smooth by the millennium of all but a few crags.
Explore the peaks and moorland of the Cheviots from the comfort of your computer with these virtual reality mountain tour of the following peaks in this circular tour begins and ends near the hamlet of Langleeford on the banks of the Harthope Burn.
Peak |
Height |
Category |
Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairn Hill | 777m | Nuttall | Langleeford |
| Comb Fell | 625m | Nuttall | Langleeford |
| Hedgehope Hill | 714m | Nuttall | Langleeford |
| Scald Hill | 549m | N/A | Langleeford |
| The Cheviot | 815m | Nuttall,CoH | Langleeford |
Let's Go:
When viewed on mobile phones equipped with the appropriate gyros, these tours are also compatible with Google Cardboard VR, and other headsets.
Float cursor over picture button below to view start location, allowing time for Google Map to update.
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The Cheviot:
All the panorama's in these tours where taken during hikes that snatched the last of the evening's light. There were some exquisite sunsets, not all unfortunately transferring themselves to the photos, but I hope that the essential essence of these experiences is captured.
I visited the Cheviot one evening late in spring, having driven north on business from my home in the South of England, visiting customers in Sheffield and Durham and on route to Dunfermline, just across the Forth from Edinburgh. It was already close to six o’clock when I arrived at Langleeford, a time when most other walkers were taking off their packs and boots. Though it had rained a little on the way north, it was now dry, a strong wind blowing the clouds quickly across the sky high above the domed peaks. If I gauged it right, I had may be four, four and a half hours of sufficient daylight to make the circular tour of the Cheviots three highest peaks; The Cheviot (815m), Comb Fell (652m), and Hedgehope Hill (714m), a distance of approximately 16km and a total ascent of close to 900m.
It was a fantastic hike, the sun falling lower and lower in the sky, casting a bewitching golden light upon the heather, grass and rocks. Even the peat bogs had their enchantment. I passed but to walkers, they on their descent of Scald Hill (a smaller summit passed over on route to The Cheviot itself). After that, I saw no one. Yet I was not alone, for this is grouse country and the air was filled with their hoots and tweets, their startling appearance from nearby brush, and their low flying circling sweeps.
It was dusk by the time I completed the circuit; descending from Long Crags and Housey Crags in light that made photography difficult, and arriving at the footbridge that crosses Harthope Burn in a twilight that made photography impossible. Thus it is that I recommend you follow this virtual tour in the direction I walked it, climbing Scald Hill and The Cheviot first, descending by a branch of the Pennine Way to Cairn Hill (777m), before leaving the Pennine Way and dropping down to the boggy col between it and Comb Fell. Crossing Comb Fell’s unmarked summit requires patents if a step into bog or pool is to be avoided, and thus it much appreciated once one has sold ground beneath their feet during the final ascent of Hedgehope Hill.
It was dusk by the time I completed the circuit; descending from Long Crags and Housey Crags in light that made photography difficult, and arriving at the footbridge that crosses Harthope Burn in a twilight that made photography impossible. Thus it is that I recommend you follow this virtual tour in the direction I walked it, climbing Scald Hill and The Cheviot first, descending by a branch of the Pennine Way to Cairn Hill (777m), before leaving the Pennine Way and dropping down to the boggy col between it and Comb Fell. Crossing Comb Fell’s unmarked summit requires patents if a step into bog or pool is to be avoided, and thus it much appreciated once one has sold ground beneath their feet during the final ascent of Hedgehope Hill.
Be aware that grouse shooting is likey to from August 12th until December 10th.
|
| Looking back down to the valley of the acsent of Scald Hill. |
It was a fantastic hike, the sun falling lower and lower in the sky, casting a bewitching golden light upon the heather, grass and rocks. Even the peat bogs had their enchantment. I passed but to walkers, they on their descent of Scald Hill (a smaller summit passed over on route to The Cheviot itself). After that, I saw no one. Yet I was not alone, for this is grouse country and the air was filled with their hoots and tweets, their startling appearance from nearby brush, and their low flying circling sweeps.
|
| Looking east towards Langleeford from near the summit of the Cheviot. |
It was dusk by the time I completed the circuit; descending from Long Crags and Housey Crags in light that made photography difficult, and arriving at the footbridge that crosses Harthope Burn in a twilight that made photography impossible. Thus it is that I recommend you follow this virtual tour in the direction I walked it, climbing Scald Hill and The Cheviot first, descending by a branch of the Pennine Way to Cairn Hill (777m), before leaving the Pennine Way and dropping down to the boggy col between it and Comb Fell. Crossing Comb Fell’s unmarked summit requires patents if a step into bog or pool is to be avoided, and thus it much appreciated once one has sold ground beneath their feet during the final ascent of Hedgehope Hill.
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| Sunset over The Chiviot, and a pool on Comb Fell. |
It was dusk by the time I completed the circuit; descending from Long Crags and Housey Crags in light that made photography difficult, and arriving at the footbridge that crosses Harthope Burn in a twilight that made photography impossible. Thus it is that I recommend you follow this virtual tour in the direction I walked it, climbing Scald Hill and The Cheviot first, descending by a branch of the Pennine Way to Cairn Hill (777m), before leaving the Pennine Way and dropping down to the boggy col between it and Comb Fell. Crossing Comb Fell’s unmarked summit requires patents if a step into bog or pool is to be avoided, and thus it much appreciated once one has sold ground beneath their feet during the final ascent of Hedgehope Hill.
|
| Descending Hedgehope Hill and heading towards Long Crags. |
Be aware that grouse shooting is likey to from August 12th until December 10th.