Windy Gyle from Wedder Leap - Monday 16 June 2014
Route
Wedder Leap - Barrow Law - Little Ward Law - Windy Gyle - Mozie Law - Beefstand Hill - Lamb Hill - Carlcroft Hill - Carlcroft - Barrowburn - Wedder Leap
Parking
Wedder Leap (Free) - Grid Ref NT866103
Mileage
14 miles
Terrain
Mainly grassy paths with slabbed sections on the Pennine Way. The section from Yearning Saddle to Carlcroft Hill is boggy in places. The final part of the walk from Carlcroft Farm to Wedder Leap is about 3 miles along a tarmac road.
Weather
Sunny with good visibility.
Time Taken
6hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
2795ft (852m)
Map
OL16 - The Cheviot Hills (Jedburgh & Wooler)
Wedder Leap - Barrow Law - Little Ward Law - Windy Gyle - Mozie Law - Beefstand Hill - Lamb Hill - Carlcroft Hill - Carlcroft - Barrowburn - Wedder Leap
Parking
Wedder Leap (Free) - Grid Ref NT866103
Mileage
14 miles
Terrain
Mainly grassy paths with slabbed sections on the Pennine Way. The section from Yearning Saddle to Carlcroft Hill is boggy in places. The final part of the walk from Carlcroft Farm to Wedder Leap is about 3 miles along a tarmac road.
Weather
Sunny with good visibility.
Time Taken
6hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
2795ft (852m)
Map
OL16 - The Cheviot Hills (Jedburgh & Wooler)
GPX File
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Walk Description
Northumberland is ideal walking country - not very busy and there are some fabulous walks to be had here. One of them was todays walk from Wedder Leap to Windy Gyle, returning via a high level section of The Pennine Way. We were staying near Wooler therefore it is a fair drive out to Wedder Leap but even the journey out to the Car Park was scenic and beautiful.
Leaving Wedder Leap the route passes the farm at Barrowburn before making its way along the Border County Ride, a 160-kilometer circular bridleway. Following The Ride took us over Barrow Law, past Ward Law and over Little Ward Law before making the ascent to Windy Gyle and the large stone gathering of Russell's Cairn that sits on the border of England & Scotland. It is said the cairn was supposed to mark the site of the mysterious death of Lord Francis Russell who may have been murdered for being a supporter of Queen Mary. There are good views to be had from the Cairn, particularly over The Cheviots.
From the summit of Windy Gyle we joined a section of The Pennine Way and headed South to North towards the summits of Mozie Law, Beefstand Hill and Lamb Hill before leaving the Way at the refuge hut at Yearning Saddle. The path down over Carlcroft Hill was boggy in places but was mostly on springy turf and we soon reached the road at Carlcroft Farm. The last 3 miles along the tarmac road to Wedder was delightful as we accompanied the River Coquet for the entire way.
This was a super walk in good conditions in what is a beautiful area. Apart from a group of ramblers on Windy Gyle, we saw nobody all day.
Leaving Wedder Leap the route passes the farm at Barrowburn before making its way along the Border County Ride, a 160-kilometer circular bridleway. Following The Ride took us over Barrow Law, past Ward Law and over Little Ward Law before making the ascent to Windy Gyle and the large stone gathering of Russell's Cairn that sits on the border of England & Scotland. It is said the cairn was supposed to mark the site of the mysterious death of Lord Francis Russell who may have been murdered for being a supporter of Queen Mary. There are good views to be had from the Cairn, particularly over The Cheviots.
From the summit of Windy Gyle we joined a section of The Pennine Way and headed South to North towards the summits of Mozie Law, Beefstand Hill and Lamb Hill before leaving the Way at the refuge hut at Yearning Saddle. The path down over Carlcroft Hill was boggy in places but was mostly on springy turf and we soon reached the road at Carlcroft Farm. The last 3 miles along the tarmac road to Wedder was delightful as we accompanied the River Coquet for the entire way.
This was a super walk in good conditions in what is a beautiful area. Apart from a group of ramblers on Windy Gyle, we saw nobody all day.
The information sign at Wedder Leap - a Wedder is a castrated sheep apparently
The large car park at Wedder Leap
Looking to the farm at Barrowburn with Barrow Law behind
Loft Hill
Apparently she was his mistress and was pregnant at the time - lovely
Great walking conditions today - heading up to Windy Gyle ahead to the left
Approaching the summit of Windy Gyle and Russell's Cairn
Russell's Cairn - the summit of Windy Gyle
We joined The Pennine Way at Windy Gyle and followed the sign towards Chew Green
The huge expanse and ridge of The Cheviot from Windy Gyle
Strange place to have a sign like this - must make sense to someone but not us
Heading to Mozie Law
Beefstand Hill & Lamb Hill
The Trig Point on Lamb Hill
Feral Goats near Yearning Saddle
The hut at Yearning Saddle
Yearning Saddle Refuge Hut
Heading down Carlcroft Hill towards Carshope Plantation
The track back to Barrowburn and Wedder Leap
Approaching Barrowburn