Sighty Crag

Hidden within the dense plantations of Kielder Forest, this rugged sandstone outlier is a far cry from the grassy rolling tops of the northern Cheviots. Reaching the summit requires a long trek through quiet timber tracks followed by a final, often boggy, push to the gritstone outcrops and trig point that crown the moor.

• •The name likely derives from the Middle English 'sight' or local dialect 'sighty', meaning 'conspicuous' or 'commanding a wide view'. It is a fitting title for a hill that stands as the highest point of the Border Moors, visible for miles across the surrounding forestry.
• •Geologically, Sighty Crag is distinct from the volcanic hills of the northern Cheviots; its summit is formed of Fell Sandstone, which weathers into the blocky, rugged outcrops that give the hill its character.
• •Located less than three miles from the Scottish Border, the hill is frequently bagged alongside its neighbour, Christianbury Crag. Both hills are known as 'Marilyns', a classification for peaks with at least 150 metres of prominence.
• •On a clear day, the summit offers a specific, far-reaching panorama: to the west lie the Larriston Fells in Scotland, while to the north, the massive silhouettes of The Cheviot and Hedgehope Hill rise clearly above the timber line.
• •Navigating the final approach through the 'Border Mires' provides a definitive test of your footwear; even in a dry summer, the ground here retains a memory of rain that it is exceptionally reluctant to let go of.