ALLAN POTTS enjoys a visit to Linhope Spout and the Breamish Valley.
WHETHER you are a serious rambler or just a casual walker trying to shed a few pounds, one of the most popular locations in the county is the Breamish Valley, a few miles to the west of Powburn.
Linhope Spout waterfall
Turn off the A697 Coldstream road at the road signposted to Ingram: it becomes very narrow, but there are passing places at regular intervals. This area is intensively farmed, with cattle in the valley and sheep on the hills, and a backdrop of both Hedgehope and Cheviot means that there are few places in Northumberland National Park with such fine views of the rolling landscape.
The farm buildings at Linhope nestle in the Breamish Valley
At the end of the road you will need to park, and then a two-mile walk will bring you to the waterfall of Linhope Spout, on the Linhope Burn which is a tributary of the River Breamish. Over countless millennia erosion by the constant movement of water and ice has cut away the hard granite which forms much of the Cheviot Hills, and it's here in the foothills, at Linhope Spout, where you can see the most accessible exposure of grey Cheviot granite.
This is one of the most photogenic locations in the Cheviots. I've visited it in all seasons and have found mid-summer to be the best time, preferably after a prolonged spell of rain. Early morning offers the best light for photography, for by midday the sun will have tracked around to the west and left the spout in deep shadow.
Storm clouds gather over Hedgehope and Cheviot
For the wildlife enthusiast, Linhope Burn attracts breeding birds like the dipper and grey wagtail - always on the move in their search for caddis fly and other aquatic invertebrates. You may well also catch sight of an oystercatcher scurrying along the river bank.
The oystercatcher and the dipper are both common sights along Linhope Burn
A final warning to motorists: always make a point of giving way to farm traffic on any narrow stretch of road. It may be your leisure time, but there's nothing more frustrating for a farmer during his working day than being hemmed in by visiting cars. Never block gateways and always park at the appropriate places; just a little thought makes all the difference.