Bill's Walks

Bloodybush Edge and Cushat Law

Approx. Distance: 11 miles

Start: Ewartly Shank (GR 965134)

Click to view start position on Google Maps

Map : OS Explorer 16 – Jedburgh & Wooler

It was some years since l had last been on the top of these hills although they were used quite frequently for our Mountain Rescue Exercises and the recent visit to the Cheviots to place the plaque at Yearning Saddle, in memory of John Weatherall, prompted another visit (see below for further information). These are two of the 2000ft hills where l had not kept a record of my previous visits, so all in all, a good idea to revisit. The SMC Guide for the Southern Uplands by Keith Andrew suggests that High Bleaklow is the best starting point for these hills but l beg to differ. In my view the narrow road from Alnham to Ewartly Shank gives a good start just short of the farm at GR905133 near the spot where the Salters Road joins the tarmac. There is a small place of the road where you can safely park and not obstruct any farm traffic.

The importance of salt in former times is often forgotten but the list of Salters roads is numerous in both towns (Gosforth) and country where place names give the clue to former use (Saltwick near Ponteland). We proceed up the Salters Road through the farm (passing to the left) past the house before returning to the line of the Salters road immediately on the right over a stile and behind the barn. After a short section through a wood you descend sharply on the track over Shank Burn and then climb just as sharply up the other side. It is now a steady climb over open moorland with only the sheep and wading birds for company to the col at Little Dod. The hill visible on the left is Hogdon Law with Cushat Law also seen from near the col. A pleasant view ensues here down to the valley of the Breamish at Low Bleakhope where tarmac is reached for a short distance. It ends at High Bleakhope and the farmer here does not care for careless parking and obstruction on the road as his signs indicate. This is the last habitation of the valley and after a further half mile just past a shed the path crosses the river. In past times there was a rudimentary bridge here but this was swept away in the floods of 2007 and it is necessary to ford the river. In times of flood this will be difficult but the good news is that there has been new concrete foundations erected and it looks very much as though we will have a new bridge here soon.

The way now climbs uphill past a barn and onto Nagshead Knowe and after a further half mile you reach a shooter’s track which continues on to the forest edge. The corner may be cut off where the shooters track starts but it is wet underfoot. At the forest edge you have a choice; to continue on down to Uswayford Farm, much beloved of Pennine Way walkers, or strike up the forest edge or actually up the side of the fence which is about 100 yds from the forest virtually due south. The gradient increases after the end of the forest but nowhere is difficult and this brings you to the trig point at the top of Bloodybush. The Uswayford route which is 2 miles longer and involves more climbing is done by descending to Uswayford Farm and taking the track south east up Bills Sike.

At the forest edge at GR895130 cross the fence and follow the faint track to the summit of Bloodybush Edge. This has fine views all round but particularly to the north to Cheviot. In bad weather it should be impossible to get lost here as there is a fence to follow basically east all the way to Cushat with only a moderate climb to the top after you reach the edge of the forest. The track here, wet in places, goes south-east and at the top there is a welcome shelter of rocks. Continuing in the same direction downhill, ignore the first fence going off to the left near to Sting Head at GR933129 and continue to the next fence junction at GR942121 where you head north. It is very wet here as the copious cotton grass indicates and we head north and reach Hogdonlaw Sike under the shapely top of Hogden Law. A good track now emerges on the better ground which is followed downhill. Keep your height and do not be tempted to go directly to Ewartly Shank which is in view as by doing so you avoid fences and emerge onto the tarmac road about 400 yds above the car.

It is a pleasant easy finish to what should be a pleasant walk. It all depends on the weather but in adverse conditions you always have the fences to follow in what is wild country. When we did this in June we spent six hours in the hills and saw nobody.

An Alternative Walk in Case of Poor Conditions

If the cloud base is low a very good walk in the same area can be carried out by starting at Alnham Church (GR 991110). Head off north-west immediately past Pennylaws Plantation on the Salters Road which is well waymarked and at GR 985121 leave the Salters Road and continue north over Alnham Moor for about 2.5 miles to Alnham Moor Farm on the River Breamish. The river is left immediately on the bridleway to the west past Meggrims Knowe above the river to the oddly named Snuffles Scar at GR940160. We then go along the riverside on the farm access road to Low Bleakhope. The way back is by Salters Road walked on the other route with a stiff climb to the col at Little Dod and then down to Ewartly Shank . After this pick up the Salters Road after the farm at the fingerpost which, after passing White Gate, reaches the point where you left the Salters Road earlier. It is now a short walk downhill back to Alnham Tower.

It is a great pity that some of Salters Road has been badly damaged after Uswayford by illegal vehicle use. Much money has been spent on its restoration and it is to be hoped that the increased police presence and action in the region brings results. If you see any such activity take a note of the registration of the vehicles and report them to Northumbria Police and follow up to see if there has been any result.

Plaque for John Weatherall Placed on Pennine Way

On May 8th 2010 several members of the PWA including Trevor Hardy, Bill Button, Doug Moffatt, Ron Powell, Graham Daniels and Bill Gallon placed a memorial plaque on the refuge at Yearning Saddle in memory of the Pennine Way Assocation President, John Weatherall, who died in 2008.

The plaque states:
In Memory of John Weatherall
(1927 – 2008)
Founder Member and Former President
of the Pennine Way Association.

The group were joined on the day by members of the Ramblers Assocation where John was active, and by members of the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team as John was the Leader for many years in the 1960s and 1970s. It was during this time, as a member of that team, that I and many others got to know him well and where he gained our respect for the way he carried out his duties.

John was also the Footpath Officer for NCC for many years where, often in difficult circumstances, he led the way into the improvement to rights of way in the county from which many of us benefit today.

This is the second time that we have acknowledged the efforts of our past Presidents as we also erected a plaque to John’s predecessor Ken Willson on the new bridge over Maize Beck between Cauldron Snout and High Cup Nick.