Northumberland
Thirl Moor
558M
1831FT
About Thirl Moor
Tucked away in the remote Upper Coquetdale reaches of the Cheviots, this broad, grassy dome offers a sense of profound isolation. Rising above the Usway Burn, the ascent involves navigating typical Northumbrian peat hags. It serves as a quiet, steady vantage point overlooking the deep, undulating valleys near the Scottish border.
Key Statistics
Rank
17th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Cheviots
Prominence
?
132m
Nearest Town
Northumberland
Geology
This fell is composed of ancient volcanic ash, rocky fragments, and hardened mud. A seam of dark volcanic rock also pierces through these layers.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NT806083
Latitude
55.3683°N
Longitude
2.3076°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely stems from the Old English 'thyrel', meaning a hole or opening, often used in northern dialect to describe a narrow pass or a place where the wind whistles through a gap in the hills.
- •Positioned near the head of the Usway Burn, the summit provides a clear, uncrowded perspective of the higher Cheviot massifs to the east, including the distinctive profile of Windy Gyle and the sprawling main plateau of The Cheviot itself.
- •The hill sits just a short distance from the Border Fence; walkers often combine it with a visit to the remote 'Street', an ancient drove road that has crossed these hills since at least the Middle Ages.
- •If you find yourself sharing the summit with anyone other than a stray Cheviot sheep or a passing military jet from the nearby tactical training area, you have likely picked an unusually busy day.