Nature Weekend in Northumberland (August 2025)
- webmasteribex
- Sep 7
- 2 min read
Fifteen Ibexers gathered for a buffet supper at Mounthooly Bunkhouse in the College Valley, Northumberland, about as far north as you can go in England (after one car missed the turning and paid a short unscheduled visit to Scotland).
On Saturday morning, with some cloud on the tops, David1 led a group clockwise on a 27km walk which took in Windy Gyle and The Cheviot. Heather’s group went counterclockwise and was a bit shorter. After lunch the cloud lifted to reveal fine views into Scotland and all around.
Sunday was bright and fine and quite hot, contrary to the forecast. Phinella led a hardy group 27km via the Pennine Way, across the border, St Cuthbert’s Way, and Hethpool where Heather and Anja took a dip in the College Burn. Cathy’s 20km group exercised their knees on an “undulating” walk which offered clear views far into Scotland. The consensus of both groups was that the flattish home straight to the bunkhouse felt more than the two miles it was on the map.
After the dry summer the peatbog was cracked and turfy paths were quite dry, so the going was easy and firm and most of us ended up with dry boots. Around the bunkhouse were house martins feasting on the midges and herons cruising over the burn. The rowans were already exceptionally heavy with berries and the hills were blooming with clumps of heather, as well as bilberries for on-the-go snacks. The paths were fringed by tormentil, harebells, and yarrow, and in places we had to step carefully to avoid coupling bees, various kinds of furry caterpillars, small frogs, sometimes butterflies, a slow worm in the centre of the path, and a tiny shrew scuttling into a clump of heather. Back at the bunkhouse the conversation turned to the mating habits of foxes.
We ate well – on Saturday a roast beef supper ending with a dessert topped by bilberries collected during the day, and on Sunday a barbecue which forces of nature drove indoors to the warmer and midge-free bunkhouse.
On Monday morning after a clear-up that was fast and efficient even by Ibex standards, under a pure blue sky promising another hot day, Susan, David1, Anja, Heather, Judith, Karen, and Phinella left for a few days on the Berwickshire coastal path; the rest of us dispersed southwards.
Thanks to David1 and Susan for organising the weekend, and to them both and to David2, Cathy, Phinella, and Heather for leading the cookteams and the walks.
Author: Maggie
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