Trail Running > Routes > Cheviot Hills > Bewick Moor & Ros Castle
A deceptively challenging 16 km run across the wild and remote moorlands of this atmospheric corner of Northumberland.
Why run this trail?
Bewick Moor is an area of wild, lonely moorland on the edge of the Cheviot Hills. Though relatively compact in size and modest in altitude, this rough expanse of heather, bracken and rocky outcrops is both remote and challenging.
The run begins with an easy scramble up through Hepburn Crags, revealing sweeping views of the Cheviots beneath huge Northumberland skies. Then the first real challenge begins – following intermittent singletrack through the heather to reach the atmospheric ruins of Blawearie shepherd’s house.
From here, the route rolls across grouse moors on a mix of clear bridleways and 4×4 tracks before the terrain becomes considerably more testing. The section beyond Eglingham requires commitment and an ability to read the ground: visible trails dissolve into thick heather, deep bracken and long grasses. It’s boggy in winter, while in summer the dense vegetation can make it difficult to pick a line. Adders are also present in this area, so take care when moving through the undergrowth during the active season.
The run finishes with a climb to the high point of Ros Castle (315 m) – an Iron Age hillfort with commanding views of the famed Northumberland coast.
For runners who enjoy off-piste adventure and genuinely wild landscapes, this route showcases an unmissable corner of Northumberland.
Hepburn Wood Car Park to Hepburn Crags
The car park at Hepburn Wood makes an ideal spot to kit up and enjoy a widescreen backdrop of the Cheviot Hills – a view that will become familiar during the first half of this run. Once you can tear yourself away, head past the Forestry Commission information board and, after 50 m, take the narrow path on the left up into the trees.
You’ll climb steeply through bracken and fallen trees up to a stile at the foot of some rocky outcrops. Cross the stile and bear right to follow the fence for a short distance before heading directly up through the crags – which requires some minor scrambling – to reach the top.
You’ll emerge onto a lush moorland plateau, with fine views across to the Cheviot Hills.
Hepburn Crags to Blawearie
Bear right and pick up a singletrack through the heather that roughly follows the line of a fence to your right. This isn’t immediately obvious and it frequently disappears altogether through tall bracken, but keep the faith and continue to press south, occasionally passing through small trees.
A series of grassy paths, singletrack and firebreaks gradually form a navigable pattern as you hug the edge of Hepburn Moor with the treeline to your right. You’ll eventually reach a wooden gate with a footpath marker. Pass through it and head towards some small hillocks on the skyline. The moorland now opens out and you’ll leave the trees completely.
You’ll soon join a grassy 4×4 track that descends gradually, with the rolling hills of the moor laid out before you.
Follow the track towards a prominent stand of trees on a small hill. As you get nearer, you’ll see the remains of a ruined building among the trees. Follow the track up to the building – this is Blawearie, a 19th century shepherds house that was abandoned in 1940 and is now used as a refuge for hikers. It’s an isolated and evocative spot with a slightly gothic undercurrent.
Blawearie to Harehope Farm
Head down the hill from Blawearie via the track you took to reach it and bear left at the triangle of tracks. Navigation is now simple as the wide track strikes out across the moor once again, winding through bracken and grouse pens. You’ll follow the contour of a ravine to your left, with the small outcrop of Corbie Crags scarring the side of the hill.
At the base of a small valley, follow the obvious track as it crosses boggy ground on duckboards to emerge onto a gravel lane that passes “The Posh Cow Shed” – a wooden shelter for walkers and grouse-shooters on the estate. After a further 750 m, you’ll arrive at an intersection of vehicle tracks by Harehope Farm.
Harehope Farm to Eglingham Moor
Before you reach the farm, turn left and pass through a gate, following the vehicle track as it winds through a couple of fields and across the flank of a small hill before crossing the burn via a footbridge.
The route now starts to climb gradually on a gravel track. After about 200 m, take the right hand path up onto Eglingham moor through grass and bracken. This becomes a well-used, compacted quad track that climbs towards a visible high point. You’ll pass lots of grouse pens and feeding stations on this section and the top of the ridge affords some nice views of the surrounding hills.
Continue north-east from the top of the hill for 400 m until the track merges with another vehicle track and follow it to pass through a boundary fence. You’ll see Wandylaw Wind Farm directly ahead.
Eglingham Moor to Cateran Hill
Once you pass through the fence, take a faint trod off to the left through the grass at about 45° to the vehicle track. This strikes out across the moor in the general direction of a stand of fir trees some way off in the distance.
This section becomes slightly foxing from a navigation and footing perspective. The faint track quickly disappears entirely into an expanse of wild moorland that is remarkably undisturbed considering its proximity to roads and vehicle tracks.
Weaving through the long grass, I glanced down to spot a female adder, basking happily in the early autumn sun. Suddenly feeling very vulnerable in shorts, I picked my way slowly through the unavoidable knee-deep heather, grasses and bracken, making as much noise as possible.
While the conditions underfoot may be tricky, navigation is a bit simpler. Aim for the dark outline of Cateran Hill, heading in a north-northwest direction. As you get closer, you’ll see a long boundary fence running directly across your path – look for a wooden gate and aim for that. Pass through the gate and continue on the clear, sandy path through the heather up to the summit cairn of Cateran Hill (267 m).
Cateran Hill to Ros Castle
From the top of Cateran Hill, it’s a gradual 1.5 km descent to join a lane that bisects the moor. If you fancy a brief detour to check out Cateran Hole – a natural 35 m long slit-like cave under the moor – this can be reached by taking a singletrack off through the heather to NU 10224 23673. Either way, once you reach the lane, turn left and continue for 2 km to pick up the track off to the right up to the top of Ros Castle hillfort (315 m).
It’s a short, punchy climb that zigzags through gritstone and heather to reach the trig point, with spectacular views of the Northumberland coast and the Cheviot Hills as a reward. There are a couple of toposcopes built into the wall if you want some help identifying landmarks; reportedly, you can see seven castles from the top on a clear day. With my contact lenses disintegrating rapidly in sweat, I couldn’t see any, but I did spot the Farne Islands clearly enough.
Ros Castle to Hepburn Wood Car Park
From the top of Ros Castle, make your way back to the lane, turn right and follow it downhill for 1 km to return to the car park. You’re likely to find this as empty as when you started your run – testament to the remote nature of this beautiful corner of Northumberland.
Highlights
Know before you go
More trail running routes in the Cheviot Hills
Disclaimer
All routes and GPX files are provided as a guide only. Conditions, rights of way, and landmarks may change. Always carry an up‑to‑date map and use your own judgement. See the Trail Run Disclaimer page for details.