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Northumberland-Walks.co.uk - photographic walks in Northumberland.Housey Crags, Long Crags and Langlee Crags Walk.Introduction This walk starts at the car park in the Harthope Valley near Langleeford. The walk follows the route to Hedgehope Hill via Housey Crags to Long Crags returning to Housey Crags and on to Langlee Crags. From Langlee Crags we followed a route to Brands Hill and back to the valley via a steep track to Langlee and the valley road. A shortened route can be followed without visiting Langlee Crags and the walk can be done in two sections. This route follows some footpaths, access land and open moorland and signs advise that no dogs are allowed on parts of this walk. Distance - Approx. 5.5 miles. Parking - In the valley near Langleeford. Toilets - None, nearest in Wooler.
Walk 1) We parked on the grassy area just before the Hawsen Burn. This is where most people park. We walked up to the road and turned left crossing a small bridge over the Hawsen Burn.
2) Immediately after the bridge we turned left onto a footpath running alongside the Hawsen Burn. This path leads down to the Harthope Burn.
3) We crossed the Harthope Burn over a wooden footbridge with a stile. On the other side of the bridge is a fine view across the burn, through the trees to the Cheviot. One of the many good photo opportunities of this walk.
4) After the footbridge we turned left and followed the path which immediately starts a short steep uphill climb, crossing more stiles.
5) At the top of this section the path turns right and crosses a fence onto open ground. We continued up this path, alongside a stone wall and crossed another fence at a boggy piece of ground. There are great views back across the valley here.
6) The path then became more of a track, meeting another which came up from the right. We continued up the track which headed towards Housey Crags, easily visible on the horizon a short distance away. We saw an adder basking in the sun here, but it soon made off into the grass.
7) The path winds steeply up to the right and to Housey Crags.
8) We climbed to the top of the crags to take photos of the Cheviot, Hedgehope Valley and Crags. All the views from here are fantastic. Note - the climb up the crags could be slippery and dangerous in wet, snowy or icy conditions.
9) From Housey Crags we followed the clearly seen footpath towards Hedgehope Hill, with fine views of the Cheviot across the valley.
10) After a short while we reached Long Crags, another place with tremendous views from the top of the crags.
11) We followed the path that leads to Hedgehope down the other side of the crags to take photos looking back up to the top. A wild place.
12) We made our way along the bottom of the crags then back up over rough ground to the top.
13) From here we followed the path back to Housey Crags.
14) We followed the path down from the crags and turned right along a track leading towards Langlee Crags.
15) After awhile the track crosses a footpath from Threestone Burn House just before reaching a gate. The walk can be shortened at this point by turning left and following the path down into the valley. * Due to time constraints we did this walk in two sections and followed this route the first time which is why the photos from here onwards are different. 16) To continue on to Langlee Crags we passed through the gate and followed the track straight ahead. This track was not a marked right of way when we followed it but the area is restricted open access land.
17) After a short distance we headed over rough ground to a gap between the two main crags and walked up to a plateau between them.
18) We climbed to the top of both crags to take photos. Note - as with Housey Crags this could be slippery and dangerous.
19) After we took in the superb views we walked back down to rejoin the track below and turned right following the track until we reached a junction with a track from Middleton Crags.
20) We turned left here and followed this track which leads to Brands Hill.
21) Just before reaching Brands Hill we reached a public footpath from Middleton. We turned left onto this footpath, almost doubling back on ourselves.
22) We followed this path which soon becomes a very steep path down to the farm at Langlee with great views along the valley to the Cheviot and Hedgehope Hill.
23) Reaching the farm we followed a path around the outside of the farmyard walls and down to a bridge over the Harthope Burn.
24) After crossing the bridge we turned left onto the valley road and returned to the car parking area.
Notes
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