Our latest weekend walk was to another waterfall, Linhope Spout on Linhope Burn in the Cheviot Hills, Northumberland National Park.
Yet again we were blessed with stunning weather. Bright sunshine, cerulean skies, deeply biting cold (which went unnoticed once we were moving) and heart-stopping views with hills and valleys reminiscent of New Zealand’s south island.
The Lure of Tragedy
I’ve a suspicion that waterfalls are becoming an addiction although the attraction of this one, having been recommended by friends, was the slightly morbid fascination that a woman had recently died in a fall there. This knowledge certainly piqued my interest; it must be pretty high.. I haven’t managed to verify the tale so it’s sounding like an urban (read rural) myth but made us take extra care the whole time.
Dangling an End-Goal Carrot
For younger wild kids yet to develop their hiking stamina, a waterfall provides an exciting and interesting focus to a walk. As an only child, Caroline can get tired or bored sooner than children with siblings so if we’re not with friends (when she can run great distances without a whinge), having a goal for the walk maintains her momentum during down times, which usually occur going uphill! A bankside picnic at a huge waterfall worked well.
Raw Wild
We saw Caroline’s first Goldcrest; a tiny flame-fairy flitting about in a conifer.
There was also a lot of Pheasant noise which interestingly felt misplaced. In other rural areas a Pheasant call can be a real affirmation of being in the countryside but here, in the remote, rugged wild it was an oddly unwelcome reminder of domestication and human interference in nature. I wanted raw wild to complement the raw beauty of the land. Sorry Pheasants, some other time perhaps.
Children, Dogs and Red Squirrels
The 3-mile round walk to Linhope Spout is moderately hard. Some of it follows farm roads (closed to public traffic) with a couple of challenging hills for young children, one rocky and slippy in wet or ice. My challenge was the frozen mossy grass on the high ground, welly soles proving useless for grip.
Dogs need to be under close control or on leads for part of the way as it is permissive access over grouse land.
There are red squirrels in the area though we didn’t spot any.
How to Walk to Linhope Spout
Park at the roadside near Hartside Farm (Grid Reference NT 976 173). For toilets stop sooner at Bulby Woods car park in Ingram – after that it’s Wild Wees ahoy!
There’s a map board near the farm for those without OS, and a signpost once you reach the hamlet of Linhope.
Up in the hills, the waterfall spout is at first invisible, then unassuming and then a precipitous and roaring chute, dropping 60′ (18m) to a 6′ (2m) wide, 16′ (5m) deep plunge pool, perfect for wild swimming in the summer. It’s effectively a natural infinity pool where you swim against the current!
Where’s the waterfall?
The Waterfall of Doom
Explored from above and below, it’s easy to see how one false move could lead to a fatal fall, but nevertheless it was a great adventure for a 7-year old (and me) and a wildly beautiful location with some tricky scrambling down the rocks to the pool.
We picnic-ed briskly, getting super-cold backsides on the freezing bank, paddled, bouldered over stepping-stones and headed home at sunset for hot chocolate in the van.
Check out these guys running the spout in a kayak and this video underwater in the plunge pool – not much going on except a large fish!
Anyone heard of ‘Waterfalls Anonymous’ so I can curb this growing addiction?…or possibly extract some secret locations from fellow sufferers!
What’s your wild addiction?
Need more inspiration?
For more things to do near water read Kids of the Wild’s Rivers and Lakes section
For fun things to do in the north east check out my Northumberland pages and for more fab family walks check out Kids of the Wild’s walking and hiking pages
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#CountryKids
We are planning a trip up this way later int he year. Looks fantastic x
Let me know if you need any pointers for places to visit x
This looks like a fantastic waterfall to explore, it’s in such beautiful surroundings too. It’s great to set somewhere like this as your aim when you’re out walking with kids, it really does give them the motivation to carry on! Hot chocolate back at the van after definitely sounds like the perfect way to finish off your walk.
Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
What beautiful scenery in a lovely part of the country 🙂 It’s nice to hear other families hiking out there with their little people, and the waterfall looked amazing! #countrykidsfun
Our main outdoor activity is walking, best to start the children young so they grow up loving it.
Great post. We have a bit of a waterfall addiction too, often searching out one on a map (or even asking for local advice) and making it a goal for a family hike.
Northumberland is somewhere we always plan on visiting and never quite make it to… beautiful scenery! #CountryKids
Oh I do love a good waterfall too, now if you want to plan a holiday around this obsession I can fully recommend Norway! So many stunning waterfalls and mountains, the areas around Bergen especially xx #countrykids
Norway is already on the list. With kayaking with Orcas involved too….maybe in a couple of years!
I do love a good waterfall. There is just something about them. #countrykids
Wow – this looks glorious! We’re heading up this way in the Summer, and this is most definitely on the list. Your photographs are beautiful. #countrykids
I can give you a list of must-visits if you need ideas when you visit. There’s SO much to do here
We’re quite addicted to geocaching at the moment. Waterfall visiting is probably a good thing to be addicted too though. There are some impressive ones out there for you to explore and if it gets your little one enthused too then that is a bonus!! #countrykids
We’ve yet to do much geocaching – so many things, so little time! Thanks for stopping by
Wow what gorgeous scenery you’ve got here! I’m a big fan of waterfalls too, they are somehow very captivating and wonderful to visit. Looks like a great outing 🙂 #countrykids
It’s stunning round here, many waterfalls and a definite addiction! Thanks for reading x