In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Cheviot Hills like this:
Cheviots, a broad range of lofty hills, extending from Cheviot Hill, 25 miles south-westward along the English Border, to Peel Fell, whence another range-included sometimes in the general name of Cheviots-strikes westward to the Lowthers, parting Liddesdale and Eskdale from Teviotdale. Cheviot itself (2676 feet), the highest summit of the range, belongs to England, lying fully a mile within Northumberland, 7 miles SW of Wooler; but Auchopecairn (2422 feet), Windygate Hill (2034), Hungry Law (1645), Carter Fell (1899), and Peel Fell (1964), may be called 'debatable points,' as they culminate exactly on the Border. ...
The outlines of the hills are for the most part rounded; often they stand skirt to skirt, or shoulder to shoulder, like clustering cones. The principal pass is that of Carter Bar. The prevailing rock is porphyritic trap, and the soil, over great part of the surface, bears a rich greensward, excellent for sheep pasture. The highest portions, to a great extent, are heath; and considerable tracts, on the slopes or in the hollows, are bog. The chief streams on the Scottish side are the Hermitage and the Liddel, going towards the Solway Firth; the Teviot and the Beaumont going towards the Tweed. The golden eagle is now no longer seen; gone is the 'great plenty of redd dere and roe buckes,' mentioned in Leland's Itinerary; but grouse are fairly abundant, and the famous white-faced breed of Cheviot sheep is pastured in large flocks. Many are the Cheviots' memories of invasions, of reivers' raids, and of smuggling frays; but these will be noticed under the parishes of Yetholm, Morebattle, Hounam, Jedburgh, Southdean, and Castleton.—Ord. Sur., shs- 18,17,1863-64.
Cheviot Hills through time
Cheviot Hills is now part of Alnwick district. Click here for graphs and data of how Alnwick has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Cheviot Hills itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Cheviot Hills, in Alnwick and Northumberland | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/24920
Date accessed: 19th April 2024
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