Humbleton Hill from Wooler

The rolling hills near Wooler make for some excellent walking. The tracks are good and the views outstanding. On this walk there is woodland, rivers and easy moorland walking capped off with the sharp climb to the Iron Age fort on Humbleton Hill.

The Walk

Wooler is usually seen as the kicking off place for the Cheviot climb. However closer to the town there is an excellent walk which includes the Iron Age fort remains of Humbleton Hill. It is easy to see why the ancients picked this spot for a fort, the views north and east would spot any approach from an unfriendly neighbour. Nearby Homilton Hill is where Harry ‘Hotspur’ Percy gained his ‘spurs’ by helping rout the Scots in 1402. After falling out with the crown however he later changed sides. It was an error and this flamboyant individual, made famous by Shakespeare, lost his life. The Percy’s however remain to this day.

To enjoy Humbleton Hill from Wooler to its full I headed off initially to the south. St Cuthberts Way meandered through the woodland of Kenterdale Hill, past the Wooler Pastures and then out on to open countryside. The path heading towards the trig point at Gains Law is a delight. From Gains Law approach Humbleton Hill from the wide open grouse moors tonto the steeper slopes under the Iron Age fort. It is an archaeologists dream but I admit to be mainly there for the views. The steep descent offers a splendid perspective over Wooler.

Recommend

One thing the Northumberland National Park do well is notice boards. It is most obvious at Kielder and Hadrian’s Wall but here the Battle of Homilton Hill is described in some detail at the foot of Humbleton as are the woods near the car park at Wooler Common.

Navigation Tips on Humbleton Hill

If you are using a map make sure it is orientated correctly. A map is not a book but an aerial photo and requires matching it up with the land around. It is a simple case of pointing the map arrow on your compass north up the map and then turning the map and compass together so the magnetic arrow sits on top of the map arrow. The red id therefore in the bed.

An orientated map not only makes it easy to decide the direction you are going but it also gives a much wider perspective of where everything is!