Views across Northumberland

In the Adventures of the Billy Goats Gruff I have often dwelt on views, particularly of distant hills. When I have thought about the boys next steps, there has always been one hill in view on their return journey; the Cheviot.

It is an odd feature of the landscape, visible from many places as a distant hump, but as often concealed from view by folds of the land or, as today, by the weather. 

I am sitting in a play park in Prudhoe with an expansive view northwards. There is the sweep of the Tyne Valley towards Hexham to the west and Newcastle upon Tyne in the east. There is the ridge of high ground which separates the Tyne from the other river basins of East Northumberland and also marks the route of General Wade's military road and, of course, Hadrian's Wall. Opposite Prudhoe there is Harlow Hill, a minor hill by most standards, but distinctive. Eastwards is Heddon on the Wall, another notable rise on the ridge, while in the distance westwards the ridge continues into the hazy distance where it forms the southern boundary of the wild lands of western Northumberland - that is Trolldom.

At the edge of sight today there is a further ridge, though I am not sure what they represent - probably the watershed of the Blyth/Wansbeck basin. On clear days the next line of hills would be the Simonsides, a line of northward facing sandstone escarpments south of Rothbury and beyond them the Cheviots, of which only two hills are visible clearly; The Cheviot and Hedgehope Law.

Beyond the Cheviot lies the Till Basin, the ancient land of Din Guaire which was the home of the Grufflings long ago. The Cheviot, glimpsed from afar by the brothers, will call them home.