Northumberland
Monkside
513M
1684FT
About Monkside
Monkside is a sturdy, heather-clad lump in the Southern Cheviots that watches over the march of Kielder Forest. It’s perfect for those who find the main Cheviot too crowded and prefer their solitude served with a side of ankle-deep peat and 'is that a cloud or a sheep?' visibility.
Key Statistics
Rank
32nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Cheviots
Prominence
?
62.8m
Nearest Town
Northumberland
Geology
You are walking across the Tyne Limestone Formation, a landscape built from layers of limestone and sandstone mixed with silt and mud-based rocks.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NY685949
Latitude
55.2473°N
Longitude
2.4970°W
Did You Know?
- •The name harks back to the Middle Ages when monks from Melrose Abbey likely used these high ridges as a highway for moving livestock between their various land holdings.
- •At 513 meters, it marks a significant high point on the watershed between the North Tyne and the River Rede, offering sweeping views across the vast Kielder timber plantations.
- •It sits on the edge of the Otterburn Training Area, meaning your peaceful walk might be occasionally punctuated by the distant, rhythmic thud of heavy artillery practice.
- •The terrain is classic 'Cheviot sponge,' a deceptive surface that looks like solid ground but behaves more like a saturated chocolate cake designed to steal your boots.
- •Navigation here is a masterclass in optimism; you’ll spend half your time following sheep tracks that lead nowhere and the other half wondering if the fence line is your friend or a cruel trick of the mist.