The classic round from the Harthope valley grass car park just before Langleeford. Of course this is to do the other two “Nuttalls” on the south side, as we had done the Cheviot as a deviation on the Pennine Way four years ago. Not a great idea to do it on the day of the “Chevy Chase” fell race from Wooler, as the road and car park are very busy, but doing it clockwise ensures you are not caught up in it: we only saw and spoke to one runner on the northern limb, as he hated the descent and reascent through bracken from the Cheviot to Hedgehope Hill. Doing it our way means the steep bit, Hedgehope Hill, is up, and the long down from the Cheviot is gentle on the knees, with the views superb. We missed the view on the visit from the Pennine Way, the summit has non. The Comb Fell to Scotsman’s Knowe is reminiscent of the South Pennine and Bowland peat bogs, but is quite short. Cloudberry leaves are abundant above 500m, and the white flowers, rare anyway, are over now, but we counted five pinkish flowers on the way to orange fruits. This round makes just over nine miles with 2800ft of ascent.
And the runners all seem to stay in Wooler, busy, busy.
Housey Crags, the first objective. Harthope Valley from the south ridge. Turning north at Scotsman’s Knowe. A rare Cloudberry flower/fruit. The rather drab Cheviot summit. Hedgehope Hill from the descent. The descent ridge.
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