Part 1 of a occasional series of Northumberlands hidden places. I headed to Holystone in the foothills of The Cheviots. Started with a visit to The Lady Well, then onto Dove Crag , a hidden grotto deep in the forest.
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@Fell_Wanderer10 жыл бұрын
Speaking as a fellow Northumbrian and next door neighbour this inspires me, some of the places I've forgotten and some not discovered yet, all of it brilliant thanks for sharing
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thanks Damien yes a great place to explore up there. Atb. Mick.
@northumberlandmountainhopper2 жыл бұрын
lovely video we are so lucky up here in northumberland will visit this one
@blamhof2 жыл бұрын
Thank you It's a lovely place but the walk to Dove Crag has been spoilt by all the forestry work over the last few years and it has lost some of its atmosphere. Mick.
@nikita23326 жыл бұрын
Well the contrast between the various shades of orange, red and green that Autumn brings out here is stunning. If one lives in the moment and is highly attuned the subtle elements of these landscapes they become truly mesmerising and timeless.
@blamhof6 жыл бұрын
This whole area of Northumberland is very beautiful, from the ancient oak forest to the hidden grotto of Dove Crag and the colours of Autumn make it even more special. Take care. Mick.
@teec338510 жыл бұрын
Beautiful trees in that ancient woodland Mick, amazing shapes, we really need to keep these places protected, that path into the woods wooooo lol. Some nice affects in here buddy :) Great location !!!! Terry.
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thanks Terry the ancient oak wood is National Trust land and protected but dove crag is in forestry land and you used to have to walk through miles of forest to reach it , but now they have cleared two large areas of trees which spoils the approach some what but so far they have left the main forest alone where dove crag is, so hope it stays that way. A magical place. Take care bud. Mick.
@ScotsWildcamper10 жыл бұрын
Great stuff , take us off the beaten track,its always a winner for me.Lovely hike i can imagine doing it with a coating of snow just my type of hike.Ruby be a good ratter i think.Your doing Northumberland proud.
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Cheers Eddie I have been up there in the Winter and it is even better in the snow. This was a Sunday and it was sunny and I never saw another soul all day , only the goblins lol. Aye Ruby, poor little mouse haha had to rescue the frog otherwise that would have been munched on too. Something had her spooked there, she was hyper lol. Atb. Mick
@NymeriaMeliae8 жыл бұрын
Went up to Dove Crag today... thanks for sharing the place... amazing place to visit. Afterwards went in search of Rob Roy's Cave... that was difficult to locate but found it... would need to get wet to get up to the cave itself but the series of small stepped waterfalls with a waterfall behind and a larger one near the cave was well impressive although a slippy scramble to the stream. Access to the cave is blocked by a deepish pool and some stepped waterfalls that almost form a small wall, while either side is almost vertical valley walls into the gorge. Still, it was fun looking for it. I took a deer trail connecting the red road near Dove Crag to the stream gorge... was easy enough to follow the deer to the stream but there were loads of ticks... had to do a tick check every 10-15 minutes to get the blighters before they could find a way through my clothing. Definitely need long light coloured trousers for walking about there in the summer months. I thought there wouldn't be many if any ticks about in the first week of May after all the snow and sleet we had the other week. Wasn't expecting them until later in the month. Thanks for sharing an adventure. Was well worth following your footsteps.
@blamhof8 жыл бұрын
+Nymeria Meliae Thank you glad you enjoyed it it's a fantastic spot. I have never been to Rob Roy's cave so one for the future for me. I will look forward to hunting it out. The dreaded ticks, must be going to be a bumper year for the horrors. Take care. Mick.
@thebackingpackinggeordie4 жыл бұрын
Lovely video.
@blamhof4 жыл бұрын
Thank you pleased you enjoyed it. Mick.
@fluffyspit4 жыл бұрын
I felt the spooky feeling before you mentioned it.
@blamhof4 жыл бұрын
Sadly this area has been spoilt recently due to forestry work. The spooky walk along by the old wall is unspoiled though and still has that strange vibe and on a recent visit a few months ago fresh carnations had been left on the old seat. Thank you. Mick.
@OutdoorEnthusiast10110 жыл бұрын
Definitely hidden gems there buddy . Love those eerie woods that get the mind working , easy to imagine how folk back in the day came up with fairy tales . And Ruby snapping at the water , that's probably happened throughout the ages mate . Cracking walk that bud , thanks for sharing . Luke
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Cheers Luke yes it's a great walk and your guaranteed solitude apart from whoever's watching from the shadows lol. Atb. Mick
@inthewoodswithbigfoot39416 жыл бұрын
Wonderful old woods Mate! Thanks for sharing!
@blamhof6 жыл бұрын
Thank you lots of history around these parts. Great place to explore. Thanks for watching. Mick.
@inthewoodswithbigfoot39416 жыл бұрын
When I saw you drop that stone into the spring, It caused me to wonder about how deep it may be and then about the infrastructure of the spring. Has anyone ever explored the spring?
@blamhof6 жыл бұрын
It's not that deep actually but is a substantial spring. Lots of info here about the site. www.britainexpress.com/counties/northumbria/churches/holystone-ladys-well.htm
@inthewoodswithbigfoot39416 жыл бұрын
Great information! Thanks Mick!
@LoveIsBeautiful191010 жыл бұрын
Hi Mick.. This is a place I would also love to see one day for myself... it is truly magical...I'd sit around all day til dusk..hoping to catch a glimpse of a faerie!! Thanks for showing us this place! ATB Maria
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thank you Maria yes it's a special place , well off the beaten track and with a strange atmosphere. Ruby has been on many woodland walks but this time she was different and was acting strange as if she sensed something, probably that poor mouse lol. Take care . Mick.
@brassj676 жыл бұрын
Been to Lady Well but never hiked up to Dove Crag. Looks like a wonderful hike. I think Ruby enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing Mick
@blamhof6 жыл бұрын
Yes its a great hike John. Well worth a visit. Thanks for watching. Mick.
@brassj676 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mick. I am looking forward to coming back home for a few weeks in September. I live Alberta, Canada and although I'm only 3.5 hours drive from the Rockies, I still miss Northumberland. I am taking my Canadian girlfriend with me. She has been to Scotland and lived in Ireland for a year about 20 years ago but never visited England. Do you recommend any 2 to 3 hour circular walks?
@MUNROSnCORBETTS10 жыл бұрын
Hiya Mick, Thanks for showing us Dove Crag. Looks a very mysterious but very beautiful place, I bet it has a lot of hidden stories to tell over the years! peter.
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thanks Peter, imagine bumping into Eddies cousin Brunhilda there lol. Atb. Mick
@DensumRanger10 жыл бұрын
I like spooky woods Mick, been in a few myself, cracking footage of places we wouldn't see normally, nice to see Ruby enjoying her self lol, it's eery when you think you are being watched, enjoyed Mick,Atb,Derek
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thanks Derek aye it's a strange place, that sand stone pillar next to the waterfall used to be a lot higher and was the same shape as a pulpit, which made it look like natures church, but sadly it crumbled away and is only half the height now. Always a feeling as if you are being watched there and Ruby was hyper barking at shadows lol. Atb. Mick
@hotelsierra86 Жыл бұрын
As one who on a lonesome road Doth walk in fear and dread And having once looked round walks on And turns no more his head Because he knows a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread.
@acedecs10 жыл бұрын
What a place mick,the autum colours really starting to come out.
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thanks bud yes was a great day out up there , one of those places I'll always return. Atb. Mick.
@gerrymcveigh10 жыл бұрын
Mick, a great exploration of a hidden place with loads of atmosphere :-)
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thanks Gerry yes a hidden gem . Mick.
@thebuspasscamper399910 жыл бұрын
Me and Ged splashing about in that pool no thank`s mate you never know what`s lurks beneath lol, a magical place Mick you can tell it`s steeped in history, when you were near the grotto you were walking in the footsteps of our ancesters no doubt there mate, it`s amazing what`s on our doorsteps so to speak and most of the time we ignore it, very enjoyable mate hope Ruby don`t get ill with that mouse/rat thingy lol, ATB George.
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thanks George you would think on a sunny weekend it would be teeming with people, but not a soul, just me and Ruby and the poor mouse lol. I managed to get it off her before she chomped on it, poor thing. Atb. Mick.
@Kg51Edelweiss10 жыл бұрын
Great area around there I remember years ago the salmon inn holystone had done great Friday nights around there
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Hi KG yes we used to head to Alwinton on the motorbikes many moons ago , camp next to the river then go for a few beers at The Star Inn at Harbottle. Happy days. Mick
@moorwalkerdaz711110 жыл бұрын
REARLY NICE VERY MUCH LIKE PARTS OF DARTMOOOR SEE YOU SOON DAZ...
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thanks Daz , yes I think those rocks could be straight off Dartmoor. See you soon my friend. Mick
@nigelharness903210 жыл бұрын
another great watch mick
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thank you Nigel glad you enjoyed it mate. Mick.
@WilcodeJonge10 жыл бұрын
Ah, nice fitting piece of atmospheric music there Mick! And you lucky man (and dog) with such beautiful wild & spooky areas on you doorstep. Where I'll have to make do with the 'not-wild' areas in Holland, until spring next year. Suggestion: why not walking these woods & crags after snowfall: a real good exercise in navigation? By the way, to me it seems a real pagan area there in the Northumberland. Pity that the Christian wave adapted/demolished lots of the holy oak forests, wells, altars to sacrifice some Christians ... Should resurrect the holy oaks again! On Ruby: the girl just needs more variation in her diet, more mouse-vitamins, freshly caught mutton and so on :-)
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thank you Wilco I have been up there in the snow and it looks even more magical, will have to take a video next time I'm there. Because the entrance is narrow and very overgrown it is easy to miss if you did not know it was there. A few mile away they recently found a rock with a hole drilled right through and it is alleged the hole is aligned with the midsummer sunset, more info here www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=19394 . A fascinating area , with many still hidden secrets I bet. Take care. Mick
@pathfinderfergusfilms663010 жыл бұрын
Cracking walk Mick. Now here's another place to do a wild camp. Surely no one will bother you up there? Dove Crag is a place I would want to visit and explore. I'm no expert but by the look of that rock face what we have there is an ancient waterfall that was a runoff from the last ice age? Might be worth while checking the rock face for carvings etc as this looks like a possible prehistoric site? Very ancient place all together. You can find them Mick, one for the future!
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Thanks Sinclair, yes would be a great spot to camp , its a long way into the forest and as long as you were away from the tracks no one would bother you. There are signs at the start of the forest warning anyone caught camping will be moved also the military are active a few mile away but as long as you are sensible and don't have raging fires lol it could be done. The whole area is definitely worth a good explore. A mate once told me to have a look up above the waterfall saying he once found something interesting but wouldn't elaborate and I have always meant to go up there but have never got around to it. It's very overgrown and rough going and always soaking wet, so definitly one for the future my friend. See you soon. Mick.
@savedpurplecat10 жыл бұрын
Great vid Mick, wouldn't like to visit it on magic mushrooms, looks spooky enough! love the church history always interesting, you very often find Holy places were used for very different reasons at one time and visa versa, I know what you mean about feeling something around!, you live in a beautiful place Mick :) Tim
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Hi Tim yes I'm normally ok in woodland and forests but this place gives me the creeps lol It's the first time Ruby's been and she was acting strange and wasn't herself so maybe there's something in it ? Thanks my friend. Mick.
@JimmyGoesWandering10 жыл бұрын
Nice one Mick, there seems to be the odd place that has quite a spooky vibe.... Think I would have ran that track lol Dove Crag looks nice, worth the hike in? Thanks for sharing, always nice to see the hidden gems. AtB and take care, Jimmy :)
@blamhof10 жыл бұрын
Cheers Jimmy definitely a strange atmosphere at dove crag and it's a great hike only spoiled by a couple of areas of forestry work but once your back in the main forest it's worth it. Good navigation challenge too. Take care bud. Mick.
@RomanGelembjuk5 ай бұрын
NIce video. Where are places from this video? could you share some trek or geo location?
@blamhof5 ай бұрын
This is the walk though it has been slightly spoiled recently with forestry work www.northofthetyne.co.uk/holystone.html
@VchaosTheoryV6 жыл бұрын
Now i know why my last name means "Woodland clearing". So many damn trees lol
@blamhof6 жыл бұрын
So many trees I couldn't see the wood haha. Atb. Mick.
@gray23363 жыл бұрын
Am gettin into this now mate, it's Paul Gray Coca Cola shite, Sidel man