A fascinating landscape.

Mounthooly Bunkhouse is in a secluded and wildlife rich corner of the Cheviots.

Now here’s quite a find!  The Mounthooly Bunkhouse in the Cheviots is in a fascinating landscape. What a wonderful panorama! It looks like it is in the middle of nowhere, because it is. Secluded and peaceful, the College Valley near Wooler in Northumberland has an interesting story. It is a private estate run by the Knott Trust to increase its value as an environmental, social and economic place of excellence. That aim seems to be working.

Nowadays it is part of the dark sky park, which means that the night sky will be rich with stars and planets – so bring your telescope or binoculars! It is a super overnight stop if you’re travelling the Pennine Way or St. Cuthbert’s Way. But the detail that attracted my attention was the plethora of wildlife on your doorstep. What an opportunity to see red squirrels or otters, to say nothing of our more common friends like adders or stoats. And for a final flourish – a troupe fo feral goats roam the valley too! Excellent!