Cheviot Hills

Cheviot Hills, range, c.35 mi (56 km) long, extending along part of the border between Scotland and England. The highest point is The Cheviot (2,676 ft/816 m). The North Tyne and branches of the River Tweed rise there. Since World War II the hills have been reforested. Northumberland National Park (398 sq mi/1,031 sq km; est. 1956) and Border National Forest Park occupy most of the hills. The Cheviots have been the scene of much border strife. They are celebrated in the ballad "Chevy Chase." A fine type of sheep, the cheviot, is bred there.

Range of hills along the England-Scotland border. Its highest elevation is Cheviot, at 2,676 ft (816 m). Evidence of prehistoric occupation is widespread. Part of the area was designated Northumberland National Park in 1956.

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The Cheviot Hills are a range of rolling hills straddling the England/Scotland border between Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. The Cheviot is the highest hill in the range at 2,674 ft (815 m). Other notable tops are Hedgehope Hill, Windy Gyle, Cushat Law and Bloodybush Edge. Of the hills mentioned, only Windy Gyle has its summit on the border. The rest are all within England. The English section is protected within the Northumberland National Park.

The Cheviots are also the northernmost range on the Pennine Way. The final leg from Byrness to Kirk Yetholm is the longest, and most exposed, on the whole route. The Way follows the high level Border Ridge (literally the England/Scotland boundary fence) for nearly 30 miles (50 km) after the ascent to the ridge from Byrness. The terrain is boggy and remote, and two mountain refuge huts are situated on the Way for those too tired or weather-beaten to continue.

The hills consist largely of a Devonian granite outcrop with andesite lava flows either side. The surrounding lower ground lies on carboniferous limestone.

The topography of the hills leads to the summits generally having low relative height. Only three are Marilyns; The Cheviot itself, Shillhope Law and Housedon Hill, a small northern outlier. To the south-west the Cheviots merge into the Kielder Forest group of hills.

The hills were the site of a battle between English and Scottish forces in The Ballad of Chevy Chase.

Otterburn Army Training Estate

The Otterburn Army Training Estate (ATE) covers about 230 square kilometres of the Southern Cheviots. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and used for training some 30,000 soldiers a year. Otterburn is the UK's largest firing range, and is in frequent use — artillery can be clearly heard from Lindisfarne to the north-east and Fontburn Reservoir in the south. Because of this, recreational use of the area is restricted, although it is possible for the public to use some parts of the estate subject to the relevant bylaws. The MoD publishes a booklet, Walks on Ministry of Defence Lands, which offers advice on this matter (see link below).

Peaks over 500 metres in the Cheviot Hills

The peaks marked with a warning sign lie within the danger area of the ATE Otterburn artillery range.

Name	Height (m)	OS Grid reference	Coordinates
CheviotThe Cheviot	815
Cairn Hill	777
Hedgehope Hill	714
Comb Fell (peak to the east of the Fell)	652
Windy Gyle	619
Cushat Law	615
Bloodybush Edge	610
SchilThe Schil	601
Catcleuch Shinpeak SSW of Catcleuch Shin	579
Dunmoor Hill	569
CurrThe Curr	564
Wholhope Hill	563
Beefstand Hill	562
Thirl Moor	558
Mozie Law	552
Carlin Tooth	551
Limestone Knowe	551
Hartshorn Pike	549
Black Hag	549
Scald Hill	549
Carter Fell	547
Yarnspath Law	543
Newton Tors: summit	537
Girdle Fellpeak at Girdle Fell near White Crags	536
King's Seat	531
Schill Moor	528
Saughieside Hill, Black Hagpeak between Saughieside Hill and Black Hag	528
Ravens Knowe	527
Horten EdgePeak near Horden Edge	527
Preston Hill	526
Scrathy Holes	521
Newton Tors: Wester Tor	518
Newton Tors: Hare Law	518
Broadhope Hill	517
Grey Mares Knowe	516
Ogre Hill	516
Lamb Hill	511
Outer Golden Pot	505
Shillhope Law	501

References

1. Northumberland National Park Authority, n.d. " The topology and climate of Northumberland National Park"

External links

• Walking guides on the Defence Estate, including Otterburn - Ministry of Defence
• Cottages in Cheviot Hills