Northumberland
Madam Law
397M
1302FT
About Madam Law
Rising above the College Valley in the northern Cheviots, this modest Tump offers a quiet, grassy ascent. While overshadowed by the higher mass of The Cheviot to the south, its position provides an excellent perspective of the Iron Age hillforts on nearby Yeavering Bell and the slopes of Great Hopes.
Key Statistics
Rank
81st Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Cheviots
Prominence
?
39
Nearest Town
Northumberland
Geology
You are walking on ancient lava flows called andesite. These volcanic rocks from the Cheviot Volcanic Formation form the sturdy foundation of Madam Law.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT862267
Latitude
55.5338°N
Longitude
2.2202°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Law' is derived from the Old English 'hlāw', a term common across Northumberland and the Scottish Borders used to describe a prominent, rounded hill or a burial mound.
- •Situated on the eastern edge of the College Valley, the summit provides a clear, unobstructed view of the Hethpool Bell and the winding path of the College Burn below.
- •It is frequently bagged as part of a circuit including White Hill and Great Hopes, serving as a lower-altitude vantage point before the terrain transitions into the peatier, wilder ground of the central Cheviots.
- •Despite the somewhat formal name, there is no recorded local legend of a specific 'Madam'; it is more likely a corruption of a forgotten Northumbrian dialect term or a local farm association.
- •The hill offers a grandstand view of Yeavering Bell to the northeast, allowing walkers to trace the massive stone ramparts of the ancient Votadini hillfort without the effort of climbing it.