Arts and Crafts cottages at Hethpool

Couldn’t resist posting this picture. Showing the lovely cottages and with Great Hetha in the background. Looks like some heavy rain on the way!

 

Old postcards

Old postcards can show us both what a place was like in the past and how people viewed it.

Here is one showing the College burn from Hethpool

Memories

With the houses in the College valley, each one has certain elements, be it pictures, ornaments or whatever, which become associated with that cottage in your mind. When you return you see them and think ” I am back”. At the Mill there is a substantial water heater from goodness knows how long ago. It sits outside in the garden and to us is a welcome back sign. To any previous visitor this will be instantly recognisable.

 

 

 

Hethpool lake

A man made lake which also provided electricity for the village in the early part of the 20th century. Guests can arrange for fishing access but it is most often treated as a lovely walk. The boarding and access can be difficult and a lot of it is in need of repair. Although the lake is not deep care is needed.

For guests the easiest access is down the road past  Hethpool house.

past the small summer house

and check out the cannon…they come from the City of Newcastle.

First view of the Lake

and the old boat house

and an old wooden jetty gradually falling apart

an overgrown section with the original fish “ladder”.

and finally another lovely view

Harrow bog

A short distance up the valley from Hethpool Mill is the largest remaining area of semi natural woodland in the Northumberland National Park. This is called the “Harrow bog”. The top picture below is a view towards Great Hetha.

The middle picture shows just what a scramble it can be whilst exploring this seldom visited part of the College Valley.

The bottom picture is looking further up the valley from the start of the Harrow bog woods

Hethpool Mill – Watermeadows

The fields outside Hethpool Mill had grown rich and green with the heavy rains.

This picture is just a couple of minutes walk from the Mill

and this picture shows a section of river which was cut off after the floods of July 2009. Now the dry river bed occasionally collects the rain water and when it does you get pools like this.

 

 

and a similar view

 

The old river bed…now heavily overgrown

 

a way marker post for the pathway along the eastern side of the valley…although we still haven’t been able to find the proper route ( as of Aug 2011)

 

The new stile from the field adjacent to the Mill leading into the wilderness which becomes the Harrow Bog.

A water channel cut into the meadow to try and control the flow from heavy rains

The old river bed and overhanging bank

 

 

 

 

Hethpool Mill – Flowers

The Mill sits in a field alongside the College burn. In the summer the field is full of flowers.