- Feel Good
- 15th Jan 2025
- 0
- 0 minute
A beginner’s guide to exploring The Cheviot Hills: Linhope Spout
Photographer: Carl Halliday
If you caught Team HLN’s 2025 North East Bucket List feature last week, you’ll know that many of us plan to get outdoors more in 2025.
Which may sound easy, but if you aren’t au fait with hiking, it can be difficult to know where exactly to start.
Well, we’re doing the hard work for you this year, and starting with The Cheviot Hills, we’re creating beginner’s guides, setting out easy routes to explore different parts of the region.
HLN’s top trail for first-time hikers: Linhope Spout
Distance: 3 miles (approx. two hours)
Highlights: A short, family-friendly walk ending at a stunning 18m waterfall.
Where to start: Hartside – Breamish Valley. Take the A697 north and 0.5 miles past Powburn, and take the left turn signed ‘Ingram’. Continue on this road through Ingram for approximately five miles to just before the Alnhammoor track and park on the grass verge on the left.
The route:
Leave Hartside on the road up the valley – pass a wood on your right, with rhododendrons in the spring, before the road descends to Linhope.
Cross the bridge over the Linhope Burn – and follow the road around to the left. Bear right, through a gate and up through the field, turning right onto the stone track. Follow the track along the side of the plantation.
At the corner of the plantation – a fingerpost guides you off the stone track and onto a clear grassy track. Follow this alongside the plantation to the gate. Once through the gate, continue straight along the well-worn grassy path and down the hill to the Linhope Burn and Linhope Spout.
Return by the same route.
Essential gear checklist
You don’t need to invest in professional equipment right away. Check out our latest guide to the most stylish activewear for women this winter.
Here are the basics:
- Comfortable walking boots: Ensure they’re broken in to avoid blisters.
- Layers: The Cheviots can be windy, and the weather changes quickly. A base layer, fleece, and waterproof jacket are key.
- Backpack: Big enough to carry water, snacks, and essentials.
- Safety items: A first aid kit, whistle, and fully charged phone (with a portable charger) are must-haves.
Safety first
We recommend exploring with friends or family first, especially if you aren’t a seasoned hiker. But whether you’re going it alone or in a group, take note of these safety tips to ensure you always feel comfortable:
Plan your route: Choose a trail suited to your fitness level and let someone know your plan.
Stick to daylight hours: Plan your day to avoid being caught out after dark.
Trust your instincts: If something doesn’t feel right, turn back. It’s always okay to call it a day.
Why not plan your first adventure this weekend? The hills are waiting for you.
Rachael Ellis
Creative Solutions Manager
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
Comments