Cowbyers Fell

Downs, Moorland in Northumberland

England

Cowbyers Fell

Trig point at Warlaw Pike The trig point at Warlaw Pike at 402 m.; it lies to the north of the local high point on Bulbeck Common at 413 m.
The view beyond is to the west, across the valley of Devil&#039;s Water. — Trig point at Warlaw Pike Credit: Trevor Littlewood

Cowbyers Fell is a prominent landscape feature located in the county of Northumberland, England. Situated amidst the enchanting Northumberland National Park, it is part of the larger Cheviot Hills range. The Fell, also known as a downs or moorland, boasts stunning vistas, rich biodiversity, and a tranquil atmosphere that attracts nature enthusiasts and hikers alike.

Covering an area of approximately 10 square kilometers, Cowbyers Fell is characterized by its rolling hills and expansive open spaces. The terrain is predominantly rugged and rocky, with heather and grasses covering the slopes. The Fell reaches an elevation of around 500 meters, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including the nearby Simonside Hills and the Cheviot Hills.

The area is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, with numerous species of birds, mammals, and plants thriving in this natural habitat. Visitors may encounter iconic British wildlife such as red grouse, curlews, and skylarks, as well as the occasional sighting of deer or wild ponies.

Cowbyers Fell provides an idyllic setting for outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, and birdwatching. Several well-marked trails crisscross the landscape, catering to different skill levels and interests. The tranquility and remoteness of the Fell make it an ideal spot for those seeking respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Overall, Cowbyers Fell in Northumberland is a captivating destination for nature lovers, offering stunning vistas, abundant wildlife, and a serene environment to explore and appreciate the beauty of the English countryside.

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Cowbyers Fell Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.86888/-2.0583059 or Grid Reference NY9652. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Trig point at Warlaw Pike

The trig point at Warlaw Pike at 402 m.; it lies to the north of the local high point on Bulbeck Common at 413 m. The view beyond is to the west, across the valley of Devil's Water.

Trevor Littlewood

Line of grouse butts on Blanchland Moor

An estate road alongside the grouse butt line heading east over the flat heather moor.

Trevor Littlewood

Tree tops showing in valley of Potter Burn

Potter Burn is a stream of little note draining Blanchland Moor, but the short stretch in view where Ravens Crags are located is quite incised with the sides broken by rock exposures.

Trevor Littlewood

Track crossing heather moor on Dean Rigg

Dean Rigg is a minor ridge of ground on Cowbyers Moor to the south of Potter Burn; the estate road or track follows the ridge before moving to the north side of Acton Dean.

Trevor Littlewood

Field on east side of B6306

The field descends towards the River Derwent south-west of the Derwent Reservoir. The ground beyond the valley rises to the moorland of Bainbridge Hill and Ruffside Moor.

Trevor Littlewood

Ford on Byway near Pennypie House

The Byway crosses the Shildon Burn at this point before joining another Byway (which is part of "A Pennine Journey")

Philip Cornwall

Byway near Pennypie House

This track connects Pennypie House to Blanchland and follows the valley containing the Shildon Burn. It forms part of the "A Pennine Journey" LDP

Philip Cornwall

Cottages at Shildon

In September 1938, A. Wainwright made a solitary walk through the Pennines. The following year he wrote up an account of this walk, which was eventually published in 1986 and is still available. This new route, developed by David Pitt of the Wainwright Society, is a recreation of this walk adapted for today's roads and rights-of-way, taking a route that Wainwright might have chosen if he was planning it today. Called 'A Pennine Journey' it is a challenging circular walk, 247 miles long divided into 18 stages, passing through the wonderful variety of terrain and scenery that the north of England offers and touching on all the major rivers in the region. Starting in Settle the route heads north on the eastern side of the Pennines through the delightful Yorkshire Dales and moorland stretches of Co. Durham before arriving at Hadrian’s Wall. This World Heritage site, in the Northumberland National Park, is followed for 21 miles until the route heads south on the western side of the Pennines. After traversing the Pennines just below the highest point of Cross Fell, it enters and travels down the Eden valley before skirting the Howgills Fells then arrives back in Settle. The walk is divided into 18 daily stages of varying length and offers a choice of possibilities. It can be undertaken as one continuous walk; split at Housesteads on Hadrian’s Wall (Alfred Wainwright’s primary objective) into two stages of roughly 120 miles each; or divided into three stages – eastern, northern and western – of around 80 miles each.

Philip Cornwall

Off-road vehicles near Pennypie House

The eroded road being used by a number of 4X4 vehicles is a byway but restricted in the time of year that the public may motor over it. At this location and elsewhere there's serious erosion to the ground along the route.

Trevor Littlewood

Farmland and woodland between Cowbyers and the Derwent Reservoir

I took this photo (coincidentally) from more or less the same place as NY9751 : Farmland and woodland between Cowbyers and the Derwent Reservoir (January 2013) which shows what the reservoir looks like when it's full.

Mike Quinn

Acton Burn

Andrew Curtis

Actonmill Bridge

Andrew Curtis

Ruin near site of Acton High Mill

The ruin is named as Acton Mill on the first edition OS map (1865). The OS Name Book (c.1860) describes "A cottage and garden so called from the Smelting Mill which formerly stood near here" Link

Archive Link

A property shown as High Actonmill, about 250m to the north-east, is described in the Name Books as "A small cottage with garden attached occupying a very bleak situation. It derives its name from a Smelting Mill which formerly stood South East of this cottage". Link

Archive Link

Andrew Curtis

Ruin near site of Acton High Mill

The ruin is named as Acton Mill on the first edition OS map (1865). The OS Name Book (c.1860) describes "A cottage and garden so called from the Smelting Mill which formerly stood near here" Link

Archive Link

Andrew Curtis

Ruin near site of Acton High Mill

The ruin is named as Acton Mill on the first edition OS map (1865). The OS Name Book (c.1860) describes "A cottage and garden so called from the Smelting Mill which formerly stood near here" Link

Archive Link

An interesting feature of the building are the deep depressions apparently carved into the face of many of the stones. These have the appearance of weathered prehistoric cup-marks but perhaps more likely to the decorative work of a more recent stonemason.

Andrew Curtis

Ruin near site of Acton High Mill

The ruin is named as Acton Mill on the first edition OS map (1865). The OS Name Book (c.1860) describes "A cottage and garden so called from the Smelting Mill which formerly stood near here" Link

Archive Link

Andrew Curtis

Field north of Potter Burn

This field at the confluence of Potter Burn and Acton Burn shows signs of much disturbance and/or possible spoil heaps. The ruin I have called, Acton Mill NY9753 : Ruin near site of Acton High Mill is on the skyline, right of centre. Another ruin, High Actonmill, is even higher uphill, well out of sight. A plan by J.M. Dodds in Pirt & Dodds (2002), page 152, shows the location of both the Old and New smelt mills (both marked 'in ruins'). Acton High Mill (Old) is located in the confluence of the Potter & Acton Burns (NY 981 534) approximately 140m SE of the Acton Mill ruin. Also see here NY9853 : Field north of Potter Burn

Andrew Curtis

View to ruin of Acton Mill from north-east

The ruin is shown here: NY9753 : Ruin near site of Acton High Mill The line running from left to right on the land directly below the ruin are likely the course of a water leat supplying the original Acton High Smelt Mill located approximately 140m SE of the Acton Mill ruin.

Andrew Curtis

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Cowbyers Fell is located at Grid Ref: NY9652 (Lat: 54.86888, Lng: -2.0583059)

Unitary Authority: Northumberland

Police Authority: Northumbria