The Cheviots extend from the head of the Tyne in Northumberland, and
of the Liddel in Roxburghshire, to Yeavering Bell and the heights
in its neighbourhood (near Wooler), a distance of upwards of thirty
miles. Some will have it that the range goes westward so as to include
the heights about the source of the Teviot, but this is certainly a
mistake, for after leaving Peel Fell and crossing to the heights on the
other side of the Liddel Water, we enter a region which, both in its
physical aspect and its geological structure, differs considerably from
the hilly district that lies between Peel Fell and the high-grounds
that roll down to the wide plains watered by the Glen and the Till.
The highest point in the range is that which gives its name to the
hills--namely, the Cheviot--a massive broad-topped hill, which reaches
an elevation of 2767 feet above the sea, and from which a wonderful
panorama can be scanned on a clear day. The top of the hill is coated
with peat, fifteen to twenty feet thick, in some places. A number of
deep ravines trench its slopes, the most noted of which are Hen Hole
and the Bizzle. Peel Fell, at the other extremity of the range, is
only 1964 feet high, while the dominant points between Peel Fell and
the Cheviot are still lower--ranging from 1500 feet to 1800 feet. The
general character of the hills is that of smooth rounded masses, with
long flowing outlines. There are no peaks, nor serrated ridges, such as
are occasionally met with in the northern Highlands; and the valleys
as a rule show no precipitous crags and rocky precipices, the most
conspicuous exceptions being the deep clefts mentioned as occurring in
the Cheviot. The hills fall away with a long gentle slope into England,
while on the Scottish side the descent is somewhat abrupt; so that
upon the whole the northern or Scottish portion of the Cheviots has
more of the picturesque to commend it than the corresponding districts
in England. Indeed, the opposite slopes of the range show some rather
striking contrasts. The long, flat-topped elevations on the English
side, that sweep south and south-west from Carter Fell and Harden Edge,
and which are drained by the Tyne, the Rede Water, and the Coquet,
are covered for the most part with peat. Sometimes, however, when the
slope is too great to admit of its growth, the peat gives place to
rough scanty grass and scrubby heath, which barely suffice to hide the
underlying barren sandstone rocks. One coming from the Scottish side
is hardly prepared, indeed, for the dreary aspect of this region as
viewed from the dominant ridge of the Cheviots. If in their physical
aspect the English slopes of these hills are for the most part less
attractive than the Scottish, it is true also that they offer less
variety of interest to the geologist. Those who have journeyed in
stagecoaching times from England into Scotland by Carter Fell, will
remember the relief they felt when, having surmounted the hill above
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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