Wild Cheviot Goat near Yeavering Bell

FAMILY Friendly Walk

Hethpool Wild Goat Walk Grade: Moderate Distance: 2 miles (3 km) Time: 1 hour 30 mins Map: OS OL16 1:25000 Hills

A From the car park turn right and walk * To increase your chance of seeing the wild To Kirknewton, along the road. As the road bears to the goats follow the narrow path down to the & Milfield left, go through the gate on the right and left through the gorse. Cross over the burn, follow the track signed ‘St Cuthbert’s Way’ go up the other side and over the stile. down the hill to the stile on the left. Cross Continue along St Cuthbert’s Way for a the stile and follow the path through the short distance and look for the goats on field to the wicket gate in the wall ahead. the lower slopes of Easter Tor on your right. Retrace your steps back to the stile. C B Go through the gate and continue * Look up to Easter Tor on, cross the boardwalk and bear right up D Once through the gate turn right B * to the corner of the fence, keep the fence and join the well worn track over the hill, D on the left and carry on to the next stile. recently planted with trees. This section of Look up to Wester Tor Cross the stile and the footbridge and the walk follows St Cuthbert’s Way. Take A E continue straight on along the path, with your time along this path and look up to Start the wall on the right. At the junction take your left to the lower slopes of Wester Tor. the path down to the bridge. This is usually a good spot to see the wild Cheviot goats too. C Once over the bridge turn left, cross the stile and turn right up the hill. As the E Go through the gate in the deer fence path bears off to the left continue straight and follow the track through the recently ahead to the gate in the deer fence. felled area. On leaving this enclosure follow the rough track downhill to the bridge over Wild Cheviot Billy Goat the College Burn. Turn right over the bridge and follow the road back to the hamlet of Hethpool and the car park. Please use an OS map on this walk © Crown Copyright and database rights (2014) Ordnance Survey Licence Number 100022521

Start OS Grid Ref: NT 893 280 Parking: Hethpool Car Park Local Services: Wooler & Milfield Public Toilets: Wooler Terrain: Road, tracks and footpaths - can be muddy during the autumn and winter months Description: A lovely family walk to Hethpool Linn, a dramatic waterfall on the College Burn, returning along St Cuthbert’s Way - we can’t guarantee it, but a good vantage point to see the wild Cheviot goats. Hethpool and Yeavering Bell www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk Wild Cheviot Goat near Yeavering Bell

Wild Cheviot Billy Goat, Hethpool Wild Goat Walk College Valley

Getting there Local facilities Wild Cheviot Goats The male billy goats From Wooler: Follow the A697 north out Milfield 8 miles north, is a small village on The feral goat herds in the Cheviots are can be identified by of Wooler for approx 2.5 miles. At Akeld the edge of the . Cafe Maelmin regarded as an excellent example of our their large horns! turn left onto the B6351, signed ‘Kirknewton.’ is open all day, everyday, serving coffee and original landrace goat; the primitive, unim- Continue along this road for 3.5 miles, cakes, meals and snacks, beers and wines. It proved goat that helped sustain people of the National Park passing Kirknewton and on to Westnewton. is also a Northumberland National Park British isles from the times of the earliest Authority and the Turn left here onto the single track road, Information Point, with free WiFi. NE71 6JD Neolithic farmers. Evocative of bygone eras, British Feral Goat Research Group work signed ‘Hethpool’. Continue along this single www.cafemaelmin.co.uk and pre-dating all our modern goat breeds, closely with the landowners and farmers on track road for 1.75 miles. Just beyond the herds are of cultural and historic value. whose land the goats graze to manage the Wooler 8 miles east, is a small town and Hethpool the car park is on the left. now living a totally wild existence, these population sustainably for the long term gateway to the Cheviot Hills, making it an shaggy coated and long horned wild cheviot benefit of everyone. Currently GPS tracking ideal base for walking and cycling. goats are hardier than modern breeds. research is being undertaken by Newcastle Wooler Tourist Information Centre, with free The goats are approachable enough to offer University. So don’t be surprised if you see a WiFi, is packed with information on what to good views and offer no threat to walkers if goat wearing a large collar - it is telling the do, where to go and where to stay in and left alone. During most of the year, they are researchers where it is, by satellite. around north Northumberland. NE71 6BL in small family groups, larger numbers may April to October - Open every day. be seen together during the autumn rut Please keep dogs on a lead when in the November to April - Monday to Saturday. Hethpool when clashes between males happen. They vicinity of the goats and other livestock. www.wooler.org.uk kid from mid February onwards, females Kirk Yetholm 9 miles to the west, is a small sometimes leave new born kids lying up in village. The Border Hotel is also a National sheltered spots while they go off to graze. Park Information Point. Open daily for meals These are not abandoned so please leave and drink, it also offers accommodation. them where they are - mum will come back TD5 8PQ www.theborderhotel.com for them eventually.

Wooler and the Cheviot Hills Wild Cheviot Goat and Kids, College Valley Hethpool Linn in the College Valley www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk