Northumberland
Housedon Hill
268M
880FT
About Housedon Hill
Rising above the Milfield Plain near Wooler, this prominent Marilyn marks the eastern fringe of the Cheviots. It is a quiet, heather-clad dome that offers a rewarding sense of isolation despite its modest height. The summit provides an excellent vantage point over the Glendale valley towards the high granite massif of The Cheviot.
Key Statistics
Rank
151st Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Cheviots
Prominence
?
183.4m
Nearest Town
Northumberland
Geology
You are walking over lava flows from the Cheviot Volcanic Formation. This volcanic rock forms the foundation of Housedon Hill.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT902327
Latitude
55.5878°N
Longitude
2.1570°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely originates from the Old English 'hus' and 'dun', simply meaning 'House Hill', a nod to early settlements in this fertile corner of Northumberland.
- •As a Marilyn—a hill with at least 150 metres of prominence—it stands remarkably detached from the main Cheviot range, separated by the deep notch of the Glen valley.
- •From the summit trig pillar, you can clearly trace the course of the River Glen as it meanders across the flat expanse of the Milfield Plain, a landscape formed by the bed of a vast prehistoric glacial lake.
- •The view south is dominated by the dark, scree-scarred flanks of Yeavering Bell and Humbleton Hill, both of which carried significant Iron Age hillforts that once guarded the entrance to the hills.
- •It is a hill that proves height isn't everything; being 500 metres shorter than its higher neighbours usually means you get to see the landscape while the 'proper' mountains are stuck inside a cloud.