Preston Hill

About Preston Hill

Situated on the northern fringes of the range near Wooler, this rounded summit offers a quieter alternative to the busier high peaks. Its grassy slopes provide a fine vantage point over the College Valley, with the view stretching north across the Tweed towards the distinctive triple peaks of the Eildon Hills.

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Did You Know?

• •The name Preston is rooted in Old English, combining 'preost' (priest) and 'tun' (farm or settlement), suggesting the land was once held by the church in nearby Wooler or Lindisfarne.
• •The summit provides a grandstand view of the 'Hen Hole' to the southwest—a dramatic, steep-sided glacial corrie carved into the side of The Cheviot that remains one of the range’s most rugged features.
• •Walkers often approach the hill from the Harthope Valley, pairing it with its neighbour, Great Hatha, to create a circular route that avoids the often-saturated peat hags found on the higher plateaus.
• •In the 16th century, these slopes were the territory of the Border Reivers; the hill overlooks the former 'Debatable Lands' where families like the Kerrs and Fenwicks engaged in centuries of cross-border cattle raiding.
• •While officially classified as both a Hump and a Tump, Preston Hill sounds more like a character from a nursery rhyme than a 1,726ft peak, though the steady pull from the valley floor remains a serious undertaking.