Hill Rigg Wood

Wood, Forest in Northumberland

England

Hill Rigg Wood

View towards Goatstones Farm
View towards Goatstones Farm Credit: Les Hull

Hill Rigg Wood is a picturesque woodland located in Northumberland, a county in northeastern England. It is situated near the small village of Belsay and covers an area of approximately 50 acres. The wood sits on a gentle slope, providing visitors with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

The wood is predominantly composed of native broad-leaved trees, including oak, ash, birch, and beech. These trees create a dense canopy that provides shade and shelter for a diverse range of wildlife. The forest floor is carpeted with a variety of wildflowers, such as bluebells, primroses, and wood anemones, which bloom in vibrant colors during the spring months.

Hill Rigg Wood is crisscrossed by a network of well-maintained footpaths, allowing visitors to explore its natural beauty at their leisure. The paths lead through different sections of the wood, each with its distinctive character and charm. Along the way, visitors may encounter native wildlife, including squirrels, rabbits, and a variety of bird species.

The wood is also home to a small pond, which provides a habitat for frogs, newts, and dragonflies. It offers a tranquil spot for reflection and is a popular destination for birdwatching enthusiasts, who can spot various waterfowl and songbirds in the area.

Overall, Hill Rigg Wood is a haven of natural beauty, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Its diverse flora and fauna, combined with its scenic views, make it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and those seeking a tranquil retreat in Northumberland.

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Hill Rigg Wood Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 55.060892/-2.2343554 or Grid Reference NY8574. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

View towards Goatstones Farm
View towards Goatstones Farm
Footpath approaching Castle Burn
Footpath approaching Castle Burn
View across the Coal Burn Valley
View across the Coal Burn Valley
Ford through Castle Burn
Ford through Castle Burn
View towards Moorland and Farmland Ford through Castle Burn
View towards Moorland and Farmland
Ford through Castle Burn
Footpath towards Fenwickfield
Footpath towards Fenwickfield
Approaching Footbridge and Ford at Hopeshield Burn
Approaching Footbridge and Ford at Hopeshield Burn
Footbridge and Ford, Hopeshield Burn
Footbridge and Ford, Hopeshield Burn
Allgood Farm
Allgood Farm
Crook Burn
Crook Burn
Footbridge over Crook Burn The small hamlet of Slaterfield Fell can be seen above.
Footbridge over Crook Burn
The small hamlet of Slaterfield Fell can be seen above.
Crook Burn
Crook Burn
Remains of hedged drove road south of Slaterfield Fell
Remains of hedged drove road south of Slaterfield Fell
Slaterfield Fell & Kirkshield at road end "Outside the south wall of the churchyard [Simonburn] a farm road leads up westward to the fell top. After passing three lonely farms it comes to the quaint house named Kirkshield with its crocketed pinnacles, built as a shooting lodge by a seventeenth century rector. Just past the house the road comes to an end, being crossed by an ancient drove-road. This comes down from the north, its wide grass-track leading southwards towards the Roman Wall and beyond. One wonders how often it has seen stolen lowland cattle being driven northwards in the old days of the moss-troopers."
The Great Parish of Simonburn from Hadrian's Wall to Carter Bar: An Historical Guide by Cecil Dickson Ward Davis (1972).
Slaterfield Fell & Kirkshield at road end
"Outside the south wall of the churchyard [Simonburn] a farm road leads up westward to the fell top. After passing three lonely farms it comes to the quaint house named Kirkshield with its crocketed pinnacles, built as a shooting lodge by a seventeenth century rector. Just past the house the road comes to an end, being crossed by an ancient drove-road. This comes down from the north, its wide grass-track leading southwards towards the Roman Wall and beyond. One wonders how often it has seen stolen lowland cattle being driven northwards in the old days of the moss-troopers." The Great Parish of Simonburn from Hadrian's Wall to Carter Bar: An Historical Guide by Cecil Dickson Ward Davis (1972).
Pasture and shelter-belt north of Slaterfield Fell The stream shown on the smaller scale OS maps (1:25,000 and 1:50,000) as crossing the field occupies a thin band of limestone and now flows underground from sinks on the west side of the improved land, emerging in this hollow in the photo foreground on the east edge. It has been utilised by the landowner to the east of the wall (left) by using it to supply two ponds along its course on the down-slope just above its junction with the Hopeshield Burn <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4817346">NY8573 : Pond above Hopeshield Burn</a>.

A previous photo taken in the opposite direction in evening sunlight <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1142219">NY8572 : Wall north-west of Slaterfield Fell</a> picks out the subtle contours of the shallow valley that runs across the field showing the course of the underground water-course.
Pasture and shelter-belt north of Slaterfield Fell
The stream shown on the smaller scale OS maps (1:25,000 and 1:50,000) as crossing the field occupies a thin band of limestone and now flows underground from sinks on the west side of the improved land, emerging in this hollow in the photo foreground on the east edge. It has been utilised by the landowner to the east of the wall (left) by using it to supply two ponds along its course on the down-slope just above its junction with the Hopeshield Burn NY8573 : Pond above Hopeshield Burn. A previous photo taken in the opposite direction in evening sunlight NY8572 : Wall north-west of Slaterfield Fell picks out the subtle contours of the shallow valley that runs across the field showing the course of the underground water-course.
Pond above Hopeshield Burn
Pond above Hopeshield Burn
'Hollow' track above Hopeshield Burn Hollow tracks on both sides of the valley crossing show the antiquity of the route of the bridleway and former drove road along this course. Old maps, and the current line of the right of way, indicate a more graded descent and ascent on both sides by dog-leg diversions away from its straight line course along the boundary wall <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4817388">NY8473 : Crossing of the Hopeshield Burn</a>. Beyond the stream crossing, the boundary continues as a prominent bank <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1142221">NY8473 : Ruined wall by bridleway west of Fenwickfield</a>
'Hollow' track above Hopeshield Burn
Hollow tracks on both sides of the valley crossing show the antiquity of the route of the bridleway and former drove road along this course. Old maps, and the current line of the right of way, indicate a more graded descent and ascent on both sides by dog-leg diversions away from its straight line course along the boundary wall NY8473 : Crossing of the Hopeshield Burn. Beyond the stream crossing, the boundary continues as a prominent bank NY8473 : Ruined wall by bridleway west of Fenwickfield
Crossing of the Hopeshield Burn The bridleway is provided with a modern wooden footbridge. The ford that would have provided an earlier crossing on the old drove road can be seen to its left and is still used by local farm traffic. The curving course of the track on the opposite slope can be seen on the left taking an easier route up the gradient before returning at the top of the hill to its line along the boundary bank shown on the right.
Crossing of the Hopeshield Burn
The bridleway is provided with a modern wooden footbridge. The ford that would have provided an earlier crossing on the old drove road can be seen to its left and is still used by local farm traffic. The curving course of the track on the opposite slope can be seen on the left taking an easier route up the gradient before returning at the top of the hill to its line along the boundary bank shown on the right.
Show me another place!

Hill Rigg Wood is located at Grid Ref: NY8574 (Lat: 55.060892, Lng: -2.2343554)

Unitary Authority: Northumberland

Police Authority: Northumbria

What 3 Words

///innocence.producers.washroom. Near Birtley, Northumberland

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Nearby Amenities

Located within 500m of 55.060892,-2.2343554
Ford: yes
Lat/Long: 55.0595129/-2.2311592
Ford: yes
Lat/Long: 55.0638577/-2.2294172
Ford: yes
Lat/Long: 55.0638388/-2.2287363
The data included in this document is from www.openstreetmap.org. The data is made available under ODbL.

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