The Cheviots

Exploring the lower foothills of The Cheviot today. I had set out with the intention of bagging the big one but my mind still thinks I’m four decades younger. And it was a bit warm and I’ve always suffered in the heat.

But enough excuses. A remarkably peaceful area ,especially after the coast. I only saw one other person after leaving Wooler.

In the photo, I’m on Snear Hill, a subsidiary hill of Cold Law with cracking views to the Northumbrian Coast. Across the Carey Burn valley is Hart Heugh, and far left are Harehope Hill and Humbleton Hill.

But the feature which intrigued me was the small copse, right of centre. I noticed on the map it’s in the shape of a cross, indeed a solid Celtic cross. You can just make out amongst the bracken, the dilapidated dry stone wall which defines the shape. Inside the pine trees are mature and I suspect have naturally thinned over the years.

What history does this plantation hide? A memorial perhaps to a loved one.

It seems hypocritical of me. A few days ago I posted about a cross erected on Roseberry. That was a memorial. Since pre-history it seems man has felt a need to make some mark on the landscape to remember loved ones. The tumuli on the Moors are an early example.