Hethpool Mill, College Valley, Northumberland

These pictures all show the marvellous views and the wonder of the light in the College Valley

This one is looking north towards Fleehope

and from Redscar

and this from Bellyside

and another looking north up the valley

The Lambden Valley in winter is quite special. The quietness, light and snow all seem to blend together.

and this picture shows the sheep being brought down from the Bizzle and besides Dunsdale house.

The western hills of the College Valley are very quiet and you rarely see anyone up here. This view has Newton tors to the right.

To the middle and left, just beyond the plantation, is Ringchesters.

This panorama,looking towards the Cheviot from the mountain rescue hut and Red Cribs shows the hen hole…a hidden hanging valley

There is a picture on the National Park website taken in the College Valley which has always been a puzzle until we finally found where it was. It is the bottom of the fish ladder as the water runs out of Hethpool lake towards the College burn and Hethpool Linn.

The walk to the top of Great Hetha from Hethpool Mill is around 45 minutes. The views are fantastic. The first image shows the mill still in shadow ( around 10 a.m. ) on the right. You can then see the College burn as it leaves the valley and St Cuthberts walk as it cuts through the plantation middle right.

Hethpool lake is just visible on the left

and this is the Mill using the telephoto

and here is the view towards Elsdonburn

and this photo looks over Hethpool and the lake.

Staying at the Mill you will have plenty of opportunity to walk along the approach track for the Newton Tors walk. This basically follows St Cuthberts Way

and here is the view across the College burn to Collingwood oaks and the Bell

and here is a picture of Hethpool Linn and the bridge over the burn

finally a reminder of what it can be like up on the Tors

To us the Schil walk is one of the best in Northumberland. From the base at Mounthooley there is a short walk to the border ridge. You follow the Pennine way up the Schil and down the otherside to Red Cribs and the mountain rescue hut. Great views of Cheviot and the Hen hole. There is then a pleasant walk down the valley, past archaeological sites and back to Mounthooley.

and

and the view north down the valley from Red cribs

Red Cribs again

The Cheviot and Hen Hole

Way back

Hethpool Linn. Just to the north of Hethpool Mill the College burn flows into a narrow gorge. Here the waters are funnelled through a very tight gap with a small waterfall. Immediately after this the burn opens up into a wider valley just below Collingwood bell. The picture below tries to convey the wildness and debris associated with this area. It is beautiful and we have spent many a happy and quiet summer day here …but this is basically the “spout” where the flood waters hit wider land and the rushing waters quieten.

The Tors comprise

Easter tor,

Wester tor

and Harelaw.

They form the backbone of the Eastern side of the College Valley. To the west they drop down to the College burn and Hethpool Mill is at the base of Easter Tor.

To the west they slope across heather covered peat lands towards Commonburn house, Happy Valley and Wooler itself.

Although it is possible to climb from the Mill directly onto the Tors this is not recommended. The sides are steep and fenced over sections.

It is much better to walk north through the nearby plantation and then follow St Cuthberts Way along the side of the hills until you come to the point where the path turns right and there is a short steep climb which also offers great views over the Millfield plain.