Day out: Harthope Valley, Northumberland

The Harthope valley is reached by following signposts along a twist of narrow roads from Wooler, carefully avoiding pheasants and partridges.

Far less populous than the Breamish and Coquet valleys to the south, there are numerous quiet picnic patches along the banks of Harthope Burn.

From the end of the public road, an 800-metre walk brings you to Langleeford, and it’s a further 2km of rough track to Langleeford Hope, beneath the slopes of The Cheviot and Hedgehope Hill. Here, you might spot an adder on the track, or birds such as curlews, stonechats, meadow pipits, whinchats, skylarks, buzzards and possibly merlins.

A footpath now leads, in 800 metres, to Harthope Linn, which plunges into its pool through a partly hidden gorge. Arguably prettier and more accessible than Harthope Linn are the two-tier waterfall and smaller cataract that lie a few hundred metres upstream. The latter of these is ideal for a picnic and a paddle.