📌 Cheviot Hills, Northumberland / Scottish Borders
★★★
Northbound hikers on the last stage of the 268-mile Pennine Way have two options for their final descent towards Kirk Yetholm. The more tiring, high level route sticks to the grassy shoulders of Steer Rig and Stob Rig, while the low level option follows the valley of the Halter Burn. This enjoyable day walk combines both to make a circuit; a worthwhile extension to The Schil just breaches the 600 metre mark and straddles the Anglo-Scottish border. Granite outcrops add character to the summit panorama, with Hen Hole gorge visible to the southeast as a gaping wound in the flank of The Cheviot.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Green Humbleton from the start 
Road at Halterburn 
Halter Burn beyond Burnhead Farm 
View back to White Law 
Above Curr Burn 
The Schil (right) from east of The Curr 
English border south of Black Hag 
View back from the final ascent 
Northern crags 
The Schil summit cairn / crag 
View northeast to the College Valley 
View southeast to The Cheviot 
Steer Rig 
View back from the ascent to White Law 
White Law west top 
Halterburnhead & most of the walk route from White Law west top 
Coldsmouth Hill (right) from White Law 
Final descent
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on minor road 1 mi east of Kirk Yetholm
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 840276
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.542201,-2.255215
🚌 Bus to Kirk Yetholm (1 mi)
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 15 km / 9 mi | ▲ 680 m | ⌛ 4.5-5.5 hr
Features: △ The Schil (601 m); △ White Law (430 m)
⬤ Tough | Minor road to Burnhead Farm then paths & tracks, mostly on grass with some boggy sections. Good signposting, using two variants of the Pennine Way.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise lollipop circuit with extension to The Schil: start – follow west variant of Pennine Way up Halter Burn – 484m col between The Curr & Black Hag – The Schil – retrace outward route to just before 484m col – White Law via east variant of Pennine Way (true summit is north of fence) – optional short detour to west top – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Cows, lots of sheep, a kestrel.
Weather: Mostly sunny, 20°C, windy.
August 2023
