Bewick Moor - Detail
Where to start
Park on the B6346 opposite Harehope Hill (Map) Landranger grid ref NU087201: there's nowhere obvious to park, but it's a very quiet road and we just pulled onto the verge.
Route
Follow the road east until you meet the farm track up to Harehope (the distance will depend on where you parked) and turn left into the lane. Climb up to the farm buildings then turn right through the farm, following the well marked bridle path across a stream and then a steepish climb across the field. After about 1km from the farm the path becomes very difficult to determine: basically it's a slog across a boggy heather covered moor! Just keep the fence to your right and continue up the hill until you pass the triangulation point (which should be about 100m to your left) and arrive at the track. Turn left on the track and enjoy the easy riding for all of 700m until the going gets rough again: where the track bears right keep straight on on the bridle path (signed but not easy to follow).
You're now on top of Bewick Moor and the riding is essentially flat: that doesn't mean its easier as the next 2½ km is largely on unmarked paths, through heather and over drainage ditches. This makes navigation quite difficult as there's nothing obvious to follow. As you come off the track head to the left side of the small wood that is approximately 1km straight ahead. After passing the trees look for the cairn a further 1km on, and then, from the cairn, head for the left edge of the woods on the other side of the road. In clear weather there are good views to the coast and up to the Farne Islands.
On reaching the road turn left. The route is now easier as the remainder is on clearly identifiable paths. Having arrived at the road and turned left head west for about 800m down the hill and leaving the transmitter towers on your right. As the road starts to climb again there is a large farm track exiting to the left: take this track and follow it for about 1km: cross the gate and continue on the path with excellent views towards the Cheviots