From June 21 to June 26 I will be in Wylam, Northumberland, without a car. I was thinking of trying Cold Fell G/NP-020: take the train from Wylam to Brampton and then walk southwest for about 5.5 miles (not sure about the best route) I read the terrain is quite boggy, but another thing I will not be able to pack is proper boots or sticks (plane luggage). I’d greatly appreciate any local help — maybe someone around there would like to hike up with me? I could also consider other options. Thanks!
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Tosson Hill (G/SB-007) seems to be another option (with shorter travel times). It appears to involve catching a train to Newcastle then a bus to the village of Rothbury and then about a 5-km walk to the summit.
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Hi Mikel,
If you had time, you could catch a train from Wylam to Metrocentre. Opposite the Metrocentre station is a Go Outdoors (Google Maps), where you could pick up some hiking boots and poles. They are open every day: GO Outdoors Express Metrocentre store | GO Express Near Me | GO Outdoor
The last time we climbed the summit from the West through the Forest Head quarries it was quite wet, but it was early in the year (February). We used sticks and proper boots, but generally we always do now following my fall in Madeira the other year 
. In June you may be lucky and find it dry, in which case trail shoes may be OK if you can’t get boots.
Hopefully someone who has activated it more recently (or in June) can comment on what the ground conditions are likely to be.
Good luck!
73, Simon
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It was quite boggy when I went, but that was in March.
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What size boots do you normally wear (I know, you should never ask a gentleman that HI).
There isn’t that much left of the railway network in the NE despite being it the birthplace of the railway… but there are some possibilities. Most involve long, slow but quite scenic train journeys but you will have to make sure you are not late as there are few trains…(and the buses usually manage to be even slower….)
Great Knoutberry Hill (G/NP-015) from Dent Station. (Train about 3hrs each way…) Fairly easy walk from Englands possibly best scenic rail line and one of the highest stations in the UK although it can be boggy it as at least short. Don’t expect too much at Dent Station the buffet closed about 50 years ago but the views are quite good…
The hills in G/TW are fairly easy walking and providing you can afford the train tickets and “enjoy” slow rail travel both Round Hill G/TW-001 (From Battersby Junction - which will take about 2 hrs but there isn’t a frequent service so you will need to get your timings right) and Guisborough Moor from Commondale are possible … but granted not easy due to poor rail connections. This would be much easier walking on well defined paths.
Finally it is possible that I might be free on the 23rd (and more importantly have a vehicle too) but I won’t know until the week before. If I can I’ll be able to give you a lift to the bottom of Cold Fell and we could walk up together. PM me if you are still stuck nearer the time. 73. Paul
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I’ve done this 3 times although getting the train from the opposite direction. Definitely recommended.
You can also do Aye Gill Pike G/NP-023 from Dent station. Baugh Fell G/NP-012 can be done from Garsdale station. Wild Boar Fell G/NP-007 can be done from either Garsdale or Kirby Stephen stations.
It is the highest mainline station in England.
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(Off topic sorry )Corrour (On the West Highland Line) would be even higher, but getting there and back in a day from Wylam would be problematic…… (and I’d argue that the West Highland Line has long distance trains and unfortunately the Settle Carlisle lost its express services….).
Yes, the highest in England.
I should have asked AI first…
I did…
( But should the planets ever allign I would like to don Beinn na Lap (GM/WS-091) so knew where the station was and I looked at the map first….…)
