A moderate walk to the tranquil College Valley

Please note – Following Storm Arwen, some of the rights of way within the National Park may have sections which are temporarily closed or unsafe for visitors at this time.

Part of this route has been highlighted as currently unsafe; the path to the hillfort on Sinkside Hill is blocked by several fallen trees. Please stay away from woodland areas at this time and follow Northumberland National Park Authority on social media for updates. If visitors or the local community would like to report an issue on a right of way within the National Park, please contact stormarwen@nnpa.org.uk.

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

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Walk overview

Walk difficulty
Moderate
Walk distance
5 miles / 8km
Walk duration
2.5 hours
Location
The Cheviots
Recommended OS Map
OS OL16 1:25000 The Cheviot Hills
Accessible
No
Dog friendly
No

Step by step route

Turn left and follow the valley road

From 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

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

Keep to the path, downhill, cross the burn and go up the other side. Continue along the path, following the fence line.

Cross the burn and follow the path uphill,

Make your way downhill, cross the burn and follow the path uphill, (quite a steep climb), to the wicket gate ahead.

Follow the path down through the trees

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.

Go through the field gate and turn left

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 still

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

Join the track and turn left, following it over the College Burn. At the road turn left back to Hethpool and the car park.

Walk route

Getting there

Starting Point: Hethpool 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.