Walking in the Simonside Hills

by: Keven Shevels
This full colour guide describes nine walks exploring the history and landscape of the Simonside Hills, a sandstone ridge that stretches from Coquetdale to Redesdale in Northumberland. The Simonside Hills were a special place for our ancestors and for many people still are. Part of a range of sandstone hills that run up the centre of Northumberland between the Cheviots and the sea, these hills present a wide variety of countryside for the walker to explore.

To the east the Hills end in the Simonside Ridge, a famous landmark of crags and rocks. To the west, the landscape gradually changes from moorland to rough farm pasture while in the centre the wooded bulk of Harwood Forest dominates. Here, in this varied landscape, mankind has left many reminders of his presence through the ages. From the Stone Age to the 1940's, there are the remains of habitation and of conflict. Join the author as in this series of walks he discovers this special countryside.

Each walk chapter begins with a short description of the route plus practical data including distance, ascent, terrain, time, start point with grid reference, OS Explorer map sheet number and suitability for dogs. The route descriptions are clear and comprehensive with grid references given for major navigation points. Each walk has also been assigned a Ferguson Grading System rating and the book gives details of this system and how to interpret the grades. The book includes an informative introduction to the area and is illustrated with colour photographs. Copious notes on features of interest are provided in coloured panels. There are fairly simple outline sketch maps and we would recommend carrying the relevant OS Explorer map OL42 and a compass on these walks.

The walk locations are:
Lordenshaw, Hill Fort and rock art - 3.9 miles
Simonside Ridge and the Coquet Cairn - 6.8 miles
Winter's Gibbet and Tod Crag - 8.4 miles
Todholes and Eastnook, The Mote Hills - 4.8 miles
The Stones of Fontburn - 5.1 miles
Harehaugh Hill Fort and Witchy Neuk - 4.3 miles
Landshot Hill and Darden Pike - 5.6 miles
Tosson Hill - 10.1 miles
Harwood Forest and Manside - 7.3 miles

ISBN 9781905444670 Pages 112 (2015) 148mm x 210mm