Northumberland
Black Hag
549M
1801FT
About Black Hag
Tucked onto the high spine of the Anglo-Scottish border, this rounded Cheviot Tump offers a rugged sense of isolation. Its grassy slopes drop steeply into the serene College Valley, providing a grandstand view of the Schil and the winding College Burn. It is a quiet, peat-topped alternative to the busier Pennine Way.
Key Statistics
Rank
19th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Cheviots
Prominence
?
66m
Nearest Town
Northumberland
Geology
The ground beneath you is andesite, a volcanic rock from the Cheviot Volcanic Formation. These slopes were shaped by massive, ancient lava flows.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT861237
Latitude
55.5069°N
Longitude
2.2216°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Northern English and Scots word 'hag', referring to an area of broken, overhanging peat or a firm spot within a bog; 'black' likely describes the dark, exposed earth characteristic of these high border ridges.
- •The summit lies directly on the boundary between England and Scotland, with the wire fence of the Border Ridge serving as a physical guide for walkers navigating between the Cheviot and the Schil.
- •Reaching the hill from the north involves a walk through the College Valley, a private estate where car access is strictly limited by permit, ensuring the approach remains one of the quietest in the Northumberland National Park.
- •From the 549m top, there is a clear and dramatic view northwards over the Iron Age hillfort of Great Hetha, which sits prominently above the entrance to the valley below.
- •Navigating Black Hag in a typical Cheviot mist provides an excellent opportunity to discover exactly how many different shades of grey a border fence can turn before you realize you have stepped into a peat bog.