This walk links three of the shapeliest peaks in the Cheviot Hills -The Schil, Windy Gyle and Hedgehope, and involves some 5700 feet of ascent. It is not a walk for beginners and walkers should not underestimate its severity. There are no topographical dangers in the form of crags but there are few places of habitation on route and the lie of the hills can cause confusion. These hills are particularly exposed, with long walks back to the nearest available transport. There is no public transport along the Harthope Valley but there is car parking at the Hawsen Burn at 954225 where the thirty mile walk starts. A time limit of 15 hours is set for the thirty mile walk, and 24 hours for the forty mile walk starting at Wooler. The walk is circular so you can start where you will but this description will commence at Wooler, including details of the start from Hawsen Burn where appropriate.
Leave Wooler by the road to Waud House 984277 where a footpath leads to Wooler Common. At Wooler Common Farm take the footpath to the right of the farm to a stile, cross it and follow the path past forestry planting down to the confluence of the Hazelly and Carey Burns at 945255. A footbridge will be found a short distance down the Carey Burn and the Hazelly can be crossed using the boulders under the nearby trees. A path leads to the ruins of Broadstruther Farm at 942248. Ignore the clear track leading to the left and the Hawsen Burn and look for a track from the right hand corner of the farm heading towards the right hand side of Broadhope Hill. The faint track leads down towards the stream, cross and continue with the fence on your right. The path improves and when a stile is reached cross this and continue with the fence on your left until the forest fence is reached at a stile. Cross again and follow the grass track down through the forest until a fence is reached. Turn right here and follow a track down the Lambden Valley past Goldscleugh Farm.
Alternatively, from the Harthope Valley take the path up the right side of the Hawsen Burn to 947229 and there take the left hand right of way. Walk almost to the head of the burn, now low on your left, then bear slightly right, continuing up the heather slope to a fence and a stile. Cross the stile and go straight ahead to a small cairn, then towards the left hand edge of the plantation seen ahead on the right hand side of the valley. On reaching the plantation cross the stile next to the forest gate. The way ahead is clear before passing through an area of broom bushes and deteriorates into a sheep trod between a fence and an expanse of heather, but soon a track can be seen which leads down to the valley floor where the stream can be crossed before passing through the yard of Goldscleugh Farm. Here the route from Wooler is met.
From Goldscleugh to Dunsdale farm there is a tarmac road. If the farmyard gate is used at Dunsdale Farm access to a right of way can be achieved which follows the southern edge of a plantation and leads down to the College Burn 881222 which can be crossed easily unless it is in flood. This is a better alternative than a road walk to Southernknowe 889246. In either case then follow the road, which becomes a track, on the west side of the burn to 880240. Then follow the edge of the plantation directly uphill and to the summit of THE SCHIL, a delightful spot to stop for refreshments. From the Schil follow the Pennine Way north to just below the flank of Black Hag 862234 where use the stile to go over the wall and turn half left towards the ruin of Schilgreen Farm. Before the ruin comes into sight a broad forestry road will be found. Follow the road to the hamlet of Sourhope 846203 from where a tarmac road can be followed to Cocklawfoot Farm 854186.
At Cocklawfoot cross the bridge over the Kelsocleugh Burn and look for a gate on the right to the left of two sycamore trees. The green road beyond the gate is Clennel Street and it provides an excellent route taking full advantage of the hill contours up to the border gate at 871160. Do not forget to look back as you ascend because the views are extensive. Turn right at the gate and follow the fence to the summit of WINDY GYLE 855152.
From Windy Gyle make your way over the flank of Little Ward Law 865145 and down to the road where turn left to Uswayford Farm 887146. Cross the water and follow the right of way along the right bank of Usway Burn to join the Salters Road at 893156. Paths can be found through the trees and progress made down to the more obvious track at 917163 above High Bleakhope. Leave this track just before a gate across its width for a less obvious trod which can be seen climbing the hill on your left. Again this path disappears but your next objective, Linhope 963163 in the Breamish Valley, lies ahead. You can if you wish go through the farm at High Bleakhope and follow the road to Linhope.
The third summit, Hedgehope, is not on a right of way but has been climbed for many years without objection. From Linhope take the path to Linhope Spout but, unless you wish to view the falls, keep to the high path and cross the burn at the footbridge 956171 and, ignoring a second bridge on the left, follow a narrow path on the right bank of the Het Burn. Gradually climb away from the valley floor to the long spur on the right between the Het and Dunmoor Burns. Keep to the highest part of the spur and follow the fence to the summit of HEDGEHOPE. This is a fine view point with a large cairn providing shelter if needed.
From the summit descend alongside the fence to Kelpie Strand 952203 where a posted path will be found to take you via Long Crags and Hausey Crags to a footbridge at the confluence of the Harthope and Hawsen Burns 953225. From here follow the path up the right side of the Hawsen Burn to 948229 where take the route up to the right passing below Hawsen Crags to a stile alongside a gate in a fence. A clear path should be picked up to Broadstruther Farm ruins and the route to Wooler. If the weather is against you, follow the road down the Harthope Valley to Wooler via Skirl Naked, Middleton Hall and Earle.