Cheviot Challenge: Three go East!

The Three Amigos headed for the hills last weekend. Three days exploring, and riding some of the trails we hadnt done before.

We had planned this all year, three uninterrupted days of riding and socialising!  We had decided to ride along the old Roman Road from Hownam to Barrowburn. Across the Cheviot hills, taking in as much scenery and as many hills as we could on the route. As usual, there is always a glitsch! On the day of the race, our horses had other ideas!
All three were in the same field, but during the night, Hafla, a delightful Icelandic, belonging to Nic, came into full season! Of course, Craig, Lynne`s horse, being a gelding with attitude, decided to keep my horse Gracie, away from Hafla, as she now belonged to him! What would have been an easy 8 am start, gradually became a 9am start! Finally after many rounds of th field, we caught all three!
Leaving Cliftoncote Farm, we headed for Belford, not Hownam, cutting a couple of miles off the trip. But as it turned out, that wasnt such a bad thing.
It was an easy walk to Belford, there we headed up the valley to Seefew.

The remains of an old building, mark Seefew. The track here wends its way downhill, before heading up onto the start of “The Street “, as the Roman Road is known.

Here you can see Lynne and Nic, powering up the hill from Seefew, towards the begining of the Trail. From here it was a slog uphill for some miles. The Street, is well preserved, and in good riding condition, however it does pass through some of the wettest areas around so care needs to be taken.
Cant leave Hafla out of a picture! This point, marks one of the highest points of the route,  with some miles to go, gates do abound, but most are open.

This signpost, marks the point at which we cross from Scotland into England. Also the signpost marks the route of one of the uk`s longest Hill Walks, The Pennine Way.  Lunch time seemed good here!

Nic and Hafla,

Lynne, and the cheeky Craig! 

And of course me and Gracie!
From here we headed South to BarrowBurn, Taking in some fantastic scenery and wonderful  hills.

This is the Rowhope Valley, it was here we left The Street, and headed along here towards Uswayford, crossing the Rowhope Burn, and heading uphill towards Clennell Street, another major Roman Road that would lead us down to our final stop, Alwinton.
Looking back towards the Border Ridge, only a few miles to go now, and a cup of Tea!

All the horses did well, all deserved and got a bath, and final turnout!

What else would they need?…….time for a few beers!
A good 25 mile ride, good weather, and no rain! Jan and Jimmy, at Well House Farm did us all proud. But a special thanks goes to another person, not mentioned here!  To Ron, the Chef de Equipe`, he did well too!  Well he did fetch all the Beer!