A visit to Linhope Spout waterfall from Honey Nuc is a half-day activity in itself or could be the basis of a longer day out in the Cheviots. The spout, (Grid ref 958172 on Landranger OS Sheet 81, Alnwick & Morpeth or Outdoor Leisure Sheet 16, The Cheviot Hills) is on the Linhope Burn, a tributary of the River Breamish which flows through the Ingram Valley.
Getting there entails a fairly easy walk of about a mile and a half/2.5km from Hartside Farm (975163) which is the closest point to which you can drive and park. The Ingram Valley is approached from the A697, turning off about half a mile north of Powburn. Follow the road through Brandon Farm, on through Ingram (Visitor Centre, Tearooms, picturesque C16th St Michaels Church) onward alongside and then across the Breamish at Peggy Bells Bridge and up to Hartside.
The walk to Linhope Spout is approximately half and half, descending on the road at first as far as Linhope Farm where you cross the Linhope Burn on a beautiful stone bridge, then climbing gently on a track around woods in front of Linhope Hall before a grass path section across more open moorland descending to the waterfall. Signs guide you from Linhope Farm.Approaching the spout always feels like making a bit of a discovery no matter how many times you visit. It’s a single cascade into a deep plunge pool amongst stepped rocks with the burn flowing gently away beyond and a flat grassy area at its banks, ideal for picnicking. It can be popular on warm days.
The plunge pool is ideal for swimming in and jumping into from surrounding rocky ledges of various heights. Any watersport enthusiast visitors to Honey Nuc should be sure and pack a wetsuit if going! wild swimmers will love the ‘continuous pool’ swim experience against the force of the spout into the pool.
The water is always bracing though, acclimatisation and caution advised!Hedgehope Hill, second highest in the Cheviot range (944198) is most easily climbed from Linhope and makes for an extended day out in the area.
Follow the Linhope Burn upstream from the Spout and cross at the bridge, bearing right and carrying on up the fairly well defined track and then path along the fence line another 1.5m/2.5km or so to the summit.
Linhope Spout
