Highspoon Hill

Tucked away in the southern fringes of the Cheviots near Harbottle, this 357m Tump offers a tranquil, heather-clad escape. Rising above the Grasslees Burn, the ascent involves navigating typical Northumberland moorland to reach a summit that rewards hikers with clear, unobstructed views across the Simonside Hills to the south.

• •The name likely derives from the Old English 'spōn', which usually referred to a chip or sliver of wood, but in northern topography often described a spoon-shaped depression or a narrow strip of land.
• •Situated near the village of Harbottle, the hill sits on the edge of the Northumberland National Park, overlooking the winding path of the River Coquet as it flows through the valley below.
• •From the summit, the distinctive sandstone skyline of the Simonside Hills is clearly visible to the south, while the rounded bulk of The Cheviot dominates the horizon to the north.
• •Highspoon Hill is frequently bagged alongside a visit to the Drake Stone, a massive sandstone boulder and local landmark located just a short distance to the southeast near Harbottle Lake.
• •Despite the domestic-sounding name, you will find neither cutlery nor a decent cup of tea at the top; the summit's main offering is a quiet patch of heather and the occasional curious sheep.