Cheviots Walks
Preston Hill & Cold Law
Date: 22nd June 2008
Distance: 5.6 miles
Ascent: 1804 feet
Time: 2 hour 25 minutes
With: On my own
Start Grid Ref: NT954225
Walk Summary:
A short and soggy walk starting from Langleeford in the Harthope Valley visiting Preston Hill, Broadhope Hill and Cold Law.
Route Summary: Langleeford - Hawsen Burn - Preston Hill - Broadhope Hill - Cold Law - Cockshaw Sike - Langleeford
Photos: Click on the photos below to enlarge.
Walk Detail: This shortish walk was my first visit to the Harthope Valley and served as an apperetif to my walk over Hedgehope Hill and The Cheviot the next day.
Initial impressions of the valley were good ones with Housey Crags hovering impressively above the immediate vicinity. I enjoyed the first stage of the walk as the path criss-crossed Hawsen Burn before finally contouring above it to the flanks of Broadhope Hill. This was the point where the weather and the ground underfoot took a turn for the worse.
Making use of large sections of burnt heather I made my way over to Preston Hill to what was a surprisingly steep there and back attempt for the summit. Typically the cloud closed in as I reached the top which was bare other than a fence and a post in pool of water. It is always disappointing when there is not even so much as a cairn on a summit.
I returned over Broadhope Hill and as I got to the top the weather turned even worse than on Preston Hill with the strong winds driving the rain into my rear which got a real soaking. Though marked on the map I found even less evidence of a cairn on Broadhope Hill than I did on Preston Hill so marched on without even daring to take my camera out due to the rain. Finally, as I reached Cold Law the rain eased off and the cloud lifted a little bit (though still not enough to see Hedgehope Hill and The Cheviot properly).
Cold Law was the most satisfying fell of the day as not only did it feature a nice cairn and a trig point but I also got a view from the summit and it generally stood out more than the other two fells which were greatly overshadowed by the flanks of The Cheviot.
The descent was fairly pleasant and despite the changeable conditions and lack of views from two of the three summits this was still a decent little walk and had certainly whet my appetite for my visit to The Cheviot the next day.
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