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UK Mountains Expedition Report

Cheviot Area Report
UK Mountains
Peaks Bagged
May 2024 Day 1
Bloodybush Edge (610m)
Cushat Law (616m)
May 2024 Day 2
The Cheviot (815m)
Comb Fell (652m)
Hedgehope Hill (714m)
May 2024 Day 1

Peaks climbed : Bloodybush Edge (610m), Cushat Law (616m)

Total Distance : 21km, Total Ascent : 962m

Bloodybush and Cushat Law

I parked at Wedder Leap which in itself, was quite a drive along a very narrow and mostly badly maintained road, but the car park was good. Boots on, unfortunately waterproofs on, rucsac on and we set off, crossing the beck by the bridge and heading up on a steepening track but of course, the rain stopped and so, off came the waterproofs which would not be needed again. It was good going on a good track. We came to a firmer track that headed out to the Uswayford Farm. It took a little while to figure out the best way through but soon enough we were heading up again, this time in a much thinner track.

On the way up to Bloodybush Edge

At the fence, we crossed it and turned left, then headed up on a steeper and even thinner track which itself was wetter and steeper than we had walked so far but we were on the final climb to the summit of Bloodybush Edge, which in fact, ranked lowest on the list of remaining peaks, just scraping in at 610m. The thin track took us right the way to the summit trig point. It had taken just under two hours of good walking.

We decided to stop for a quick drink, but, even though it wasn't raining, the visibility wasn't great so we headed off towards Cushat Law. Of course, it was downhill for a while, but then we started on the uphill climb to the second peak. The path didn't improve, but it didn't get any worse and 50 minutes after we'd left Bloodybush we arrived at the summit of Cushat Law, which, thoughtfully had a nice seating area, so lunch was declared.

Cushat Law

I'd considered a more direct route back through the Kidland Forest, but having spoken to a local yesterday I decided against it. Forests are notorious for paths and tracks disappearing or moving as the forestry work proceeds. Retracing my steps did have an unfortunate consequence though, I had to summit Bloodybush for a second time!

An uneventful return saw me back at the car in just over five hours so the return journey took about the same time as the outbound journey. Interesting as there would have been more ascent on the way up, which reinforces my belief that I ascend at a similar speed to my descent.

Two more peaks done, which, added to Windy Gyle that was climbed on the Pennine Way a very long time ago, means I have completed 50% of the Cheviot Peaks. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get the remaining three done.

May 2024 Day 2

Peaks climbed : The Cheviot (815m), Comb Fell (652m), Hedgehope Hill (714m)

Total Distance : 16.5km, Total Ascent : 953m

The Cheviot

The drive to the parking area at Langleeford is traumatic to say the least, a very thin road full of pot holes, I was so pleased that I didn't meet any other traffic, passing would have been a nightmare.

We set off from the small car park and almost immediately uphill, signposted to Scald Hill, which is a precursor to the big mountain of the day, The Cheviot. Going wasn't too bad but after the summit, the full force of the peat groughs and bogs showed themselves and going got increasingly difficult and messy, making walking in a straight line, literally impossible which, combined with the gradient made for a tough climb. Luckily near the top plateau there are flagstones which lead all the way to the summit trig point. I stopped for a few minutes for a drink, but it was quite cool so I donned my mid-layer and headed off.

The Cheviot

It's quite a descent down to the mid-point, followed by a good pull up onto Comb Fell, once again made harder by the peat bogs. At one point I abandoned the path altogether and moved across onto firmer ground but it was short lived. Comb Fell seems to have no real summit and no marker so other than a quick photo I was off towards the final peak of the day, Hedgehope Hill.

There is about 100 metres of descent before the ascent back up again to Hedgehope and I have to confess to feeling the effects of the combined ascent of the three mountains so was grateful to arrive at the top. There is a good shelter and it was lunch time by any standards so I made myself comfortable and sat down to eat.

Hedgehope Hill

Like the other peaks, the cloud was down so there was no view to be had and once I'd finished lunch, I packed away and headed down. Initially it is very steep which tested tired knees, but it eases off to a gentle slope which took me all the way down. I'd presumed the track would take me right back to the car, but as I passed where I assumed it would continue down, I checked the map and in fact, the path veers off the track and takes a more direct line across a field and down a small track to a bridge which crosses the final beck and up to the car park.

So that was the Cheviot region finished, some 47 years after my first visit on the Pernnine Way which must rate as one of the longest gaps between visits to an area of England, but there it is and it's done.

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