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Akeld to Kirk Yetholm – 14 October 2023

We are going just across the border into Scotland to finish at Kirk Yetholm and doing three quite divergent routes. Kirk Yethholm has the distinction of being at the northern finish of the Pennine Way, the southern start of the Scottish National Trail and a stopping point on St Cuthbert’s Way as it comes from Jedburgh and heads towards Wooler.

Considering that the Pennine Way is 268 miles (431 km), the Scottish National Trail is 537 miles (864 km) and St Cuthbert’s Way is 62.5 miles (100 km) they make our three routes of 8 miles, 10.5 miles and 11.5 miles seem quite small by comparison.

However, what our three routes might lack in distance is made up by the great walking on the northern edge of the Cheviot Hills. The first route to start at Akeld is the 10.5-mile route. After about 2 miles this route joins a section of St Cuthbert’s Way and heads towards Hethpool and Elsdonburn and then climbs towards the Border Fence before dropping down into Kirk Yetholm.

The second route to start is the 11.5 mile route which begins just east of Kirknewton at Old Yeavering. This route initially goes south before going southwest on the Hill Fort Trail which goes to Easter Tor, Wester Tor and Hare Law before dropping down into the College Valley and following a footpath towards Trowup Burn and Wideopen Head. The final section takes the route down the Pennine Way to Kirk Yetholm.

The 8-mile route is the last to start from Westnewton Bridge and after reaching Hethpool the route goes down the College Valley for a short distance before turning west to reach the farm at Trowupburn and then Wideopen Head where it also follows the Pennine Way into Kirk Yetholm.

How about a walk just across the border to Kirk Yetholm following one of the routes through this part of the Cheviot Hills? If you would like to come out with us you can get in touch with us from our Contact Page. You can also download the walk descriptions below and the GPS routes here.

The image for this post was taken in September 2016 on one of the routes to Kirk Yetholm. If you would like to see what we were up to on a walk to Allenheads on 23rd September just scroll down to the bottom of the page to watch a video put together by a talented member of our club.

Kirk Yetholm Weather

This was a 9 mile walk that went through these locations
Cowshill – Heatherly Bridge – Killhopeburn Bridge – Carrick’s Hags – Quarry Hill – Kid’s Dam – Killhope – Carriers Hill – Carriers Way – West End – Allenheads