Yorkshire Walks

Looking back to the valley of Halter Burn from the road to Kirk Yetholm

The road to Kirk Yetholm from Halter Burn

The church at Kirk Yetholm

We continued along the road through Kirk Yetholm past the church and down the slope to cross Bowmont Water on the road bridge. Just across the river at map ref. NT822281, we turned left off the road to follow the St. Cuthbert's Way route across the fields by Bowmont Water and along a track to a lane at map ref. NT818271. The track comes out onto the lane opposite a cemetery.

This week we have been staying in a holiday cottage near Town Yetholm in the Cheviot Hills. Our week ends today and we had to leave the cottage by 10.00am. The weather this morning was lovely with a few light clouds, blue sky and spring sunshine. It was just too good to set off home so we had a walk from the little car park by the Halter Burn at map ref.840276. From the car park we set off to follow the road for about 1.5km into Kirk Yetholm.

Looking back from the road to Kirk Yetholm

St.Cuthbert's Way track towards Duncanhaugh

Ford over the old mill race at Duncanhaugh

We continued bearing right along the farm track through a pair of wooden field gates. This farm track led us along the top of a wooded bank above Bowmont Water for about 1km to a narrow road near Primsidehill at map ref. NT815264.

At the lane we turned left to walk down the lane to Duncanhaugh and a ford across the old mill race. We continued across the ford and along the lane over Bowmont Water to the cottages and farm at Hayhope. We walked through the farm yard where a track went off to our left towards Staerough Hill.

Farm track from Hayhope to Primsidehill

Primsidehill from the road by Curr Burn

Young calf in the spring sunshine

The initial farm access road gradually became a stone track and then a grass track a finally a footpath through the open hills.

At the road we turned left to walk along the road following the Curr Burn up into the hills. Our path climbed steadily for about 5km following the Curr Burn all the way.

The road following the Curr Burn valley

Track by Curr Burn heading into the hills

Looking back along the Curr Burn valley

Looking up the Curr Burn valley

Following the track up the Curr Burn valley

Looking back along the Curr Burn valley

Looking back along the Curr Burn valley

How on earth the tadploes survive is a mistery to me, but I suppose some of them must survive or there would be no frogs to produce so much frogspawn?

It was quite cool with small patches of snow still lying in the hollows and in the most unlikely puddles on the path there were large deposits of frog spawn.

Masses of frog spawn in a puddle on the track

Climbing up to join the Pennine Way below The Curr

Gate on the Pennine Way looking across the head of Halter Burn to the border ridge

Following the Pennine Way path down to Halter Burn

There is also a low level route that follows the valley of Halter Burn. We had joined the low level route. We walked through the gate and sat down next to the wall to shelter from the strong breeze for a drink and a sandwich with a gorgeous view in front of us across the Halter Burn valley to the border ridge.

After about an hour and a half from Primsidehill we came to a wall with a wooden gate where we joined the Pennine Way route at map ref. NT851242. Here there are alternative routes for the Pennine Way. There is a high level route that follows the Scottish/English border ridge.

Approaching the ruins of Old Halterburnhead

Ruins at Old Halterburnhead

Pennine Way down to Halter Burn

After our break we followed the low level Pennine Way route down the valley past the ruins of the Old Halterburn farmstead.

Finger post on the Pennine Way route

Following the road by the Halter Burn

Following the road by the Halter Burn

The path led us down the valley skirting round Burnhead farm to join the road at map ref. NT841262.

Following the road by the Halter Burn

Arriving back at the car park by the Halter Burn

The whole route is about 14km and takes around four and a half hours to walk including a couple of stops along the way. It was a lovely end to our week in the Cheviot Hills.

We walked along the road next to the burn for another 2km back to our starting point in the little car park area by the Halter burn.

Car park by the Halter Burn