College Valley

Looking north down the valley

The College Valley is one of five cuttings into the Cheviot Hills. The valley is owned by College Valley Estates which in turn is funded by a trust created by Sir James Knott MP.

The valley is spectacularly beautiful and affords a serenely satisfying ascent of the Cheviot, which at 2,674 feet is the highest peak in the area.

The Estate covers approximately 12,000 acres and is now managed by a Board of Directors whose duty is to manage it in a way that increases its value as an environmental, social and economic place of excellence. From north to south the estate is approximately 7 miles and at its widest 4 miles. There are over 65 miles of roads and pathways criss-crossing the College Valley.

The valley is open to the public, but access by car is restricted to permit holders only and these are limited on a daily basis.

Access

There is one road into the valley. This starts at Kirknewton on the road between Wooler and Kirk Yetholm. On entering the valley itself the road splits into two, the right hand turn to Trowup burn. The left hand fork goes to the estate office and farm there up the main valley to the Cheviot itself.

History

The valley is ringed by Bronze Age forts along the hill tops. There is evidence of habitation from very early times.

More recently the estate was owned by Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood, then the Grey family of Howick Hall followed by Arthur Sutherland.

Hethpool lake, north of Hethpool House

Houses in the valley

The estate office is at Hethpool House, Kirknewton. After this there are a number of estate cottages designed in the arts and crafts style.

Hethpool Mill is now converted into self-catering accommodation. There is evidence of habitation here back into the 13th century.

As the valley approaches the Cheviot itself it splits into two. The right hand fork going to Mounthooly which is now a YHA hostel. The left hand fork going up to Goldsceugh by way of Coldburn Cottage and Dunsdale House.

Hills within the College Valley Estates

The Cheviot	2,674 feet
The Schil	1,969 feet
Black Hag	1,801 feet
Scald Hill	1,791 feet
Newton Tors	1,762 feet
Preston Hill	1,706 feet
Broadhope Hill	1,693 feet
Saughieside Hill	1,598 feet
Coldburn Hill	1,588 feet
Whitelaw Nick	1,411 feet
Loft Hill	1,345 feet
Madam Law	1,302 feet
Eccles Cairn	1,148 feet
Sinkside Hill
Great Hetha
White Hill	741 feet

Outside links

• Location map: 55°32’24"N, 2°10’48"W
• The Times, Feb.27, 2010, article on College Valley
• College Valley Estate
• Northumbria byways - letting agents for cottages
• Panoramio. aerial topology and associated photographs
• Pictures of Dunsdale House and the area on Geograph.co.uk
• Cheviot hill forts
• College Valley feature Length Documentary and DVD Postcards.