Northumberland #68 - The Cheviot, Hedgehope Hill and Combe Fell, from Newton Tors

The Cheviot is the highest 'mountain' in Northumberland....although it's not a mountain....no special skills required to climb it...other than a boatload of common sense, a compass, a map and seriously good walking boots!  Even during the summer months, the top is likely to be boggy, and mist can descend at any time.

On this occasion, I wasn't trying to climb the hill but find a way of capturing the area's solitude and harshness; this shot was made late in the day in March....and yes, there was still snow about.

I love the way the mottled sky 'reflects' the patchwork patterns of the heather and moss on the fields.  There are usually sheep around, but the weather on this occasion had been appalling, so sensible farmers had cleared the heights.

I was up here for ~5 hours on this day....and saw one other idiot/man....delete as appropriate.