Simonside Hills to Harwood Forest loop


Forum » Walk Reports » Rest of England

By Oli R C on 06/08/17 at 5:11pm

Hills walked:
Simonside (Tump)
Date started:29/07/2017
Distance:18.4 km or 11.4 miles
Ascent:568m or 1864ft
Start OSGB:NZ037996
Time taken:7:08
Naismith:4:38

Changeable weather for the duration, you'd be forgiven for thinking the photos were taken on different days. Things kick off from the FC car park to the north of Simonside. A woodland path strewn with its fair share of rocks and roots...

Sandstone Way at Simonside

Sandstone Way at Simonside by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Ascent of Dove Crag, from the east.

Ascent of Dove Crag, from the east. by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Dove Crag top. Cheviot skyline to the right...

Dove Crag cairn

Dove Crag cairn by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

You can see the house at Cragside in the distant woodland, on the left edge of this shot...

Dove Crag

Dove Crag by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Now heading along to Old Stell Crag. You can have a bit of fun exploring the rocks there. Stuff to climb over and under!

Heading along to Old Stell Crag

Heading along to Old Stell Crag by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Rain to the south...

Rain to the south

Rain to the south by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Following the path across the crags to Simonside, a look back...

Between Old Stell Crag and Simonside

Between Old Stell Crag and Simonside by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Nearing Simonside...

Crags at Simonside

Crags at Simonside by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Crags

Crags by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

A walker approaches Simonside summit...

Walker approaches Simonside summit

Walker approaches Simonside summit by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Looking down from the end of the 'ridge', our route crosses the felled area, right to left...

Looking South West from Simonside

Looking South West from Simonside by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

The descent from Simonside...

West End of Simonside

West End of Simonside by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Now heading southwards at Bob Pyle's Studdie. Things get a little vague for the next half mile, or so...

Heading south at Bob Pyle's Studdie

Heading south at Bob Pyle's Studdie by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

The vague path towards Ousen Sike

The vague path towards Ousen Sike by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Selby's Cove visible, top left...

The vague path towards Ousen Sike 2

The vague path towards Ousen Sike 2 by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Woodland at Ousen House...

Ousen House

Ousen House by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Selby's Cove...

Selby's Cove

Selby's Cove by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

After Selby's Cove, the path becomes slightly overwhelmed by bracken...

Heading towards Harwood Forest.

Heading towards Harwood Forest. by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Some sections of boardwalk to help you across some very deep peat bogs. Keep an eye out for lizards sitting on the boards. I saw 4...

In Harwood Forest.

In Harwood Forest. by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Joining St. Oswald's Way

Joining St. Oswald's Way by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Back out into the open, at Coquet Cairn (just off to the right of the shot)...

By Coquet Cairn.

By Coquet Cairn. by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Heading back over the moorland, there's a couple of nice ravines to pass through. Here, crossing Forest Burn... (that's 'me Maam' on the other side)

Crossing Forest Burn

Crossing Forest Burn by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Spylaw Cottage...

Spylaw Cottage

Spylaw Cottage by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Now back at the Simonside Hills, it's straight over and down towards Lordenshaw car park...

Descent to Lordenshaw car park

Descent to Lordenshaw car park by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Amusing story. When we reached the car park, there were several chaps about to bump start a car, presumably because of a dead battery. There was a young man behind the wheel being given instructions on what to do, by one of the other three older chaps. So they pushed the car, and after gaining a little speed, the 'instructor' shouted for the driver to release the clutch. He did, and the engine started. But for reasons unknown, the driver kept driving. Just slowly, but faster than walking pace. He turned onto the road, and kept going, leaving his companions on the side of the road, looking slightly bemused. As we continued on our way, I kept looking back to see what was happening, and eventually the car re-emerged from the copse of trees further up the road. Still moving slowly, but this time backwards. Reversing to pick up the stranded souls. :lol:

Anyway, onwards over Birky Hill, past the Cup & Ring marked rocks. Now descending to Whittondean. Cragside now visible in the woodland on the right...

Descending to Whittondean

Descending to Whittondean by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

A look across to where we're heading, at Whitton Hillhead...

Whitton Hillhead

Whitton Hillhead by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Whitton Hillhead. Once again on the Sandstone Way. Simonside behind...

Whitton Hillhead

Whitton Hillhead by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

Almost back at the car park, so time to finish with a freshly shorn sheep shot...

Shorn the sheep

Shorn the sheep by Oliver Coats, on Flickr

A really nice route, done at a slightly leisurely pace.

Thanks for reading. There's a few more pics in my Flickr album, at https://www.flickr.com/photos/olivercoats/sets/72157684243626734



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