Northumberland
Dumbhope Law
386M
1266FT
About Dumbhope Law
Tucked away in the upper reaches of the Coquet Valley, this rounded grassy dome offers a quiet perspective on the Cheviots’ southern fringes. It stands as a modest but distinct hump above the Usway Burn, providing an uncrowded vantage point over the wild, rolling moorland towards Shill Moor and the distant Border Ridge.
Key Statistics
Rank
88th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Cheviots
Prominence
?
42
Nearest Town
Northumberland
Geology
You are walking on ancient lava flows known as andesite, which make up the Cheviot Volcanic Formation beneath your feet.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT859088
Latitude
55.3730°N
Longitude
2.2240°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Old English 'hope', meaning a small, secluded valley—likely referring to the cleugh carved by the Dumbhope Burn—combined with 'law', the traditional Northumbrian term for a rounded hill.
- •The summit provides an excellent, low-level view of the deep trench of the Usway Burn as it winds south towards its confluence with the River Coquet at Slyme Foot.
- •This area was historically part of the Kidland estates, which were granted to the Cistercian monks of Newminster Abbey in the 12th century for use as remote sheep pastures.
- •Despite the name, the 'hope' here is strictly topographical; do not expect the climb to provide any sudden spiritual enlightenment, though the profound silence of the upper Coquet is a fair substitute.