A great route that introduces the walker to the tranquil College Valley. Look out for the Wild Cheviot Goats on the hillside near Hethpool Mill.
Download the PDF guide to College Valley Walk
Download RouteFrom Hethpool car park turn left and follow the valley road up to Cuddystone Hall and the War Memorial dedicated to airmen killed in the Cheviots 1939 – 1945. At the Hall take the left hand fork in the road and cross over the burn at Sutherland Bridge. Keep going up the track for a short distance.
Turn left at the corner of the fence and go through the wicket gate, by the footpath sign to ‘Hethpool Mill’. Follow the grassy track uphill, passing through a gate. Just before the second gate leave the track and bear left down through the trees. Continue on the path along the hillside, keeping the fence on your right.
Keep to the path, downhill, cross the burn and go up the other side. Continue along the path, following the fence line.
Make your way downhill, cross the burn and follow the path uphill, (quite a steep climb), to the wicket gate ahead.
Go through the gate, follow the path down through the trees. At the bottom of the bank follow the path along the riverside to the wicket gates ahead. Go through the gap in the fence to the left of the gates. Continue on along the haughland (flat grassy land beside the river) keeping to the grassy track through the gorse.
At the corner of the wall/ fence go through the field gate and turn left up the grassy bank. At the top of the bank turn left through the wicket gate and continue through the recently planted area. Follow the path down the steps through the trees and continue walking along the valley bottom.
Cross the stile and follow the path through the field towards Hethpool Mill. (Look out for the Wild Cheviot Goats on the hillsides near here.)
Join the track and turn left, following it over the College Burn. At the road turn left back to Hethpool and the car park.
From Wooler: Follow the A697 north out of Wooler for approx 2.5 miles.
At Akeld turn left onto the B6351, signed ‘Kirknewton.’ Continue along this road for 3.5 miles, passing Kirknewton and on to Westnewton. Turn left here onto the single track road, signed ‘Hethpool’. Continue along this single track road for 1.75 miles.
Just beyond Hethpool the car park is on the left.
