The College Valley - "A Secret Kingdom"
"The College Valley is one of the gems of the National Park" - Quote from the Northumberland National Park website
The Valley feels remote and far removed from the world, even though it is only seven miles from the market town of Wooler. That access to the private road system is by permit only, means that your stay there will be largely undisturbed by traffic. For those who relish peace and quiet there is a lot to do; walks on high or low ground and variety of wildlife and history from the Iron Age hill forts to Admiral Collingwood and the remains of World War II planes. Or you could just sit and watch .......
College Valley Properties
There are three self catering cottages. All linen, fuel and electricity are supplied.
Hethpool Mill
At Hethpool nearest to the main road the Mill is the most recently restored. It offers lots of space with an open plan layout, wood burning stove and a large modern kitchen. The views up the valley are beautiful and you often see the most beautiful sunsets.
Outside there is a large fenced area and a dog kennel and run. There is a grass field around the Mill which is often stocked with Cheviot sheep.
Magic moments: Seeing a barn owl quartering along the bank behind the Mill as it hunts for prey. The colours in the valley at sunset. Walking into Hethpool as the evening shadows draw down and hearing the owls calling. View the Property
The School House
As you head up the Valley toward the Cheviot itself the road branches in two. The left hand turn takes you up to the Lambden Valley , Bizzle Crags and Goldsceugh.
Just as the Lambden burn flows down to join the College burn is the newly renovated cottage at Southernknowe. It is literally at the heart of the College Valley with easy access to the Cheviot, Border Ridge and Newton Tors.
Magic moments: Sitting in the sunshine, listening to the sheep on the hills and planning any one of the easy walks from straight outside the cottage. View the Property
Coldburn Cottage
Follow the road from Southernknowe up towards the Lambden Valley and you will come to Coldburn Cottage on your right. Cosy and with a sense of peace and tranquility the house has a stone wall surrounding the garden with lawns, mature trees and the Coldburn. The view up Cheviot from the house and garden is superb..
Inside there is a modern kitchen/dining room and a lounge with an open fire.
Magic moments: Picnics in the garden with the whole Cheviot valley laid out in front of you. Sitting by the stream as it murmurs past the cottage. View the Property
Dunsdale House
Continue up the valley from Coldburn and Dunsdale is on your right hand side
beside the Bizzle burn which tumbles down between the Mid Hill and Belly side.
The old Farmhouse has a double and a twin down stairs both with en suite bathrooms
and two twin rooms and a further bathroom upstairs.
Sitting on the foot of Cheviot just under the Bizzle Crags we think that if you love
the Cheviots then this is "Universe Central".
Magic moments: The evening light sitting outside behind Dunsdale. Lying in the bath with the full length window looking up the Lambden Valley. Walking along the Valley in the evening light. Climbing up Bellyside and looking down on the house and then across the empty quarter back of Cheviot towards Commonburn house. View the Property
As well as these three houses the Valley also offers two other properties:
The YHA at Mounthooly
Officially opened in May 2008 the bunkhouse can accommodate up to 24 people.
It is located at the very end of the road beside the College Burn on the way up to the Hen hole.
Mounthooly is an ideal base from which to explore both sides of the Border ridge and
the Cheviot massif.
There are two dormitories (9 beds), a family room (4 beds) and a small "leaders" room (2 beds). Comfortable mattresses and pillows are provided.
There are showers and a fully equipped kitchen including electric cooker, microwave and fridge.
Electricity is charged through a £1 coin meter. Logs are supplied.
There is a store room for bikes/heavy equipment, a lockable drying room and a meeting/map room which can be booked separately for day use.
Contact Mrs Baker Tel: 01668 216358 Email: paulineatthetop@hotmail.com
Cuddystone
Cuddystone Hall is half way up the Valley. A community hall, it has long been used by the
valley residents for meetings and get-togethers.
More recently it has been licensed for weddings.
For family reunions - or any other kind of gathering, weddings and special celebrations, why not hire all
the properties.
Warm and with a well equipped kitchen , stage, stacking tables and chairs the hall is very adaptable from power point presentations to dances and board meetings to dinners.
There are wonderful views, ample parking and at the junction of the two valley roads
the hall is well positioned as a control point for events organised in the valley.
It is a wonderful place for those searching for peace.
e.g. art classes, yoga and meditation groups.
It is also an unforgettable and romantic wedding venue.
Just outside the hall is a memorial to airmen of many nationalities who lost their lives
when their planes crashed on the Cheviots.
Contact by email
Outside the Valley the nearest communities are at Kirknewton and then into Wooler for shopping. For a short stay in the Valley why not book B&B at Hethpool House or Laundry Cottage.
The College Valley website is a good reference as is the
Northumberland National Park website.
The URLs are here:
Photographs
Keys to the past
More references
Read more about Dunsdale in our blog on Dunsdale
Read more about Hethpool Mill in our blog on Hethpooll Mill
Read more about Coldburn Cottage in our blog on Coldburn Cottage
Written by Colin Corlett
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