College Valley Estate
College Valley Estate
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5.0
43 reviews
Excellent
37
Very good
6
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
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Wallsender
2 contributions
Jun 2021
First visit in over 20 years, and it hasn't changed a bit. The College Valley itself is perhaps more notable for its serenity than its scenery; the prize here is easy access to the Border Ridge, an exhilarating high-level traverse along the England-Scotland border.
The ridge is best accessed by walking the valley to its head along the road from the Hethpool car park to Mounthooly, and then straight up to the watershed at Red Cribs. That took me a straight two hours, but you should be able to improve on that. Then on northwards past The Schil and a number of other switchback summits before picking up St Cuthbert's Way and returning downhill past Elsdonburn to the car park - 13 miles and it's hard going in places. Must confess to walking around The Schil on a level contour rather than up and down it like everyone else, but each to their own.
The glittering prize on a clear sunny day is a stunning panorama into Scotland, from the Moffat Hills in the west across to Soutra Hill and the Lammermuirs then Berwick and the Northumberland Coast to Lindisfarne. Without exaggeration, one of the best views I've ever seen, anywhere.
Choose the right day though; dry underfoot, and maximum visibility. In the wrong weather the ridge must be a seriously grim place to be. Today Ring Ouzels; Skylarks above, a warm wind blowing across the ridge.
Doesn't get much better than this!
The ridge is best accessed by walking the valley to its head along the road from the Hethpool car park to Mounthooly, and then straight up to the watershed at Red Cribs. That took me a straight two hours, but you should be able to improve on that. Then on northwards past The Schil and a number of other switchback summits before picking up St Cuthbert's Way and returning downhill past Elsdonburn to the car park - 13 miles and it's hard going in places. Must confess to walking around The Schil on a level contour rather than up and down it like everyone else, but each to their own.
The glittering prize on a clear sunny day is a stunning panorama into Scotland, from the Moffat Hills in the west across to Soutra Hill and the Lammermuirs then Berwick and the Northumberland Coast to Lindisfarne. Without exaggeration, one of the best views I've ever seen, anywhere.
Choose the right day though; dry underfoot, and maximum visibility. In the wrong weather the ridge must be a seriously grim place to be. Today Ring Ouzels; Skylarks above, a warm wind blowing across the ridge.
Doesn't get much better than this!
Written 24 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cookiescot
Halesowen, UK745 contributions
May 2021 • Couples
What a wonderful valley to visit, either walk or to drive through, they only allow 12 cars a day to drive through and you need a permit £10 you can book online. It was so peaceful and in May the colour of the gorse it just beautiful. The memorial to the pilots that crashed during WW2 over the Cheviot Hills is so moving.
Written 27 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
susan H
Nailsworth, UK85 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
This is one of the most magical places to walk. Hethpool Estate offers a small free car park and then you have the choice of many walks of all grades. The walk to the war memorial up through the valley is easy and a delight and it is possible to walk back down the other side of the valley. It is also possible to walk on along the estate roads or to go up to the hill forts with wonderful views across the Cheviots. The wildlife was superb and the countryside looked beautiful with the first tinge of autumn colour. The War Memorial to the pilots who had died in the Cheviots interesting and merits further investigation. There are numerous cottages and a Youth Hostel further up the Estate. This is an unspoiled and wilderness area which is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys nature and walking. A five star experience!
Written 5 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
colinincumbria
cumbria, uk20 contributions
The College Valley is over 4000 hectares of unspoilt Cheviot hills. From Hethpool house through to the high level Lambden Valley this is a private estate with limited vehicular access. Over 8 miles of covered roads for cyclists and walkers. Access land plus public footpaths abound.The valley has varied birdlife. A wild herd of goats is synonymous with the valley and it also has a healthy deer population.
There are three self catering cottages for rent,Hethpool Mill,Coldburn Cottage and Dunsdale House.The letting agents are Northumbria-byways
There are three self catering cottages for rent,Hethpool Mill,Coldburn Cottage and Dunsdale House.The letting agents are Northumbria-byways
Written 16 April 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim B
Les Houches, France8 contributions
Nov 2010
I was almost tempted to keep quiet about Dunsdale as its tranquility and solitude are part of its charms! Stunning location on the flanks of the Cheviot in one of England's finest valleys. I've always enjoyed the facilities of Dunsdale whatever the weather!
Written 17 April 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pam G
Fort William, UK53 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
Wonderful scenery in the heart of Northumberland to drive through the full valley to Battle Ridge you need a £10 permit. But for walkers or cyclist you can go free. Parking at Hethpool. Wild life a plenty. Can be muddy in places so best to wear suitable foot wear. Wild goats(if your lucky) on the St. Cuthbert trail. A few miles outside Wooler. Worth a visit and hope for a fine day.
Written 25 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopher
Berwick upon Tweed, UK452 contributions
Mar 2015 • Solo
I visited the College Valley for the first time on a fine day in May 1963. From the top of Loft Hill I gazed down in wonder at the golden carpet of gorse in the valley below, the peach-like scent of the gorse carried in the gentle breeze. The College Burn glittered in the sun, clouds threw ever changing patterns of light and shade across Cheviot, the air was filled with the bleating of a hundred lambs. I thought I had arrived in heaven, which is why I have kept coming here ever since.
More than half a century later, the College Valley remains unchanged. Sheep graze on the hills in the company of a few wild goats, sea trout swim up the Tweed to spawn in the College Burn, wreckage from crashed planes mysteriously rises out of the peat on Cheviot only to disappear again. You can still walk all day in the hills and not meet anyone else. Nothing – or certainly nothing important – has changed. What a relief.
This really is one of the world’s most special places, whatever the weather, as Robson Green pointed out in his TV series on Northumberland recently. There are a few lovely holiday cottages to let, all in great demand, and College Valley Estates issue a few passes for vehicles every week but it’s better to park at Hethpool and walk from there. At the end of a day in the Valley, your body and soul will feel renewed.
More than half a century later, the College Valley remains unchanged. Sheep graze on the hills in the company of a few wild goats, sea trout swim up the Tweed to spawn in the College Burn, wreckage from crashed planes mysteriously rises out of the peat on Cheviot only to disappear again. You can still walk all day in the hills and not meet anyone else. Nothing – or certainly nothing important – has changed. What a relief.
This really is one of the world’s most special places, whatever the weather, as Robson Green pointed out in his TV series on Northumberland recently. There are a few lovely holiday cottages to let, all in great demand, and College Valley Estates issue a few passes for vehicles every week but it’s better to park at Hethpool and walk from there. At the end of a day in the Valley, your body and soul will feel renewed.
Written 4 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew1000
York, UK50 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
We have been to Northumberland many times, but only recently found College Valley as this is one of the county's hidden secrets. The owners only allow ten cars into the valley each day to preserve the isolation and peace and quiet in the valley. You need to buy a permit (£10) from an agent in Wooler before you go and we were warned that there were no toilets or refreshments in the valley, so take a picnic!
The valley is reached via the tiny hamlet of Hethpool and there is then a single tarmac track that runs for several miles in a southwest direction towards the Scottish border. The valley is absolutely beautiful and when we went last week, the autumn colours were simply stunning.
In world war two, lots of aircraft crashed onto the surrounding hills. There were many stories of rescues by local farmers under the most awful weather conditions.
The MOD has recently erected a small memorial to those who died and it is very thought provoking to walk to the crash sites and consider the sacrifices that the crews made, so that we could be free to visit it ourselves.
We would definitely recommend that you make time to visit and enjoy the valley.
The valley is reached via the tiny hamlet of Hethpool and there is then a single tarmac track that runs for several miles in a southwest direction towards the Scottish border. The valley is absolutely beautiful and when we went last week, the autumn colours were simply stunning.
In world war two, lots of aircraft crashed onto the surrounding hills. There were many stories of rescues by local farmers under the most awful weather conditions.
The MOD has recently erected a small memorial to those who died and it is very thought provoking to walk to the crash sites and consider the sacrifices that the crews made, so that we could be free to visit it ourselves.
We would definitely recommend that you make time to visit and enjoy the valley.
Written 25 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WindyGyle
South Shields, UK111 contributions
Sept 2014 • Solo
There aren't many valleys that you need a permit to drive down si that alone tells you its probably going to be quiet in the College Valley. You don't need a permit because you can park at Hethpool and wherever you walk if you like wild, rugged and beautiful scenery you won't be disappointed.
Written 9 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah P
London, UK6 contributions
Oct 2010 • Friends
My friends and I rented all the cottages in the valley and filled the bunkhouse and held my 30th Birthday Party in the Cuddy Stone Hall in November. It was a fantastic weekend in beautiful surroundings and would thoroughly reccommend it to anyone whose idea of a enjoyable holiday is peace and quiet, with stunning views from a very comfortable house.
Written 1 September 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Renting Hethpool mill for a week in September. Do we Ned to purchase a permit?
Written 25 August 2018
No idea ...very sorry. The people you.re renting it off may know ...
Written 25 August 2018
Hi, we are staying at Hethpool Mill for a week. Do we need to purchase a premium?
Many thanks
Written 25 August 2018
Savills Estate Agent office, 18 Glendale Rd Wooler. It’s on the way to College Valley. They only allow 12 permits per day, but this was not a problem for us! Also, you do not need a permit to go as far as the car park at Hethpool!
Written 9 June 2018
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