Exploring the Hen Hole

In the northernmost reaches of Northumberland lies the wild and rugged College Valley, home to abundant wildlife and surrounded by some of Northumberland’s loftiest peaks. The six-mile-long glacial valley is the most isolated and tranquil of all the major Cheviot valleys, and its seclusion is further enhanced by permit-only vehicle access. Only 12 permits are issued daily, meaning those without must leave their cars at Hethpool and hike in along the metalled riverside road.

The valley is blocked at the southern end by a wall of cloud-nudging summits protecting the frontier with Scotland. Hidden just around the corner lies one of the most impressive geological features in the whole of Northumberland, the Hen Hole. This rocky, ice-sculpted chasm cuts a huge slice out of the west-facing slopes of the Cheviot, and for 1500 feet, the College Burn splashes from ledge to ledge down the fearsome ravine until it reaches the valley floor.

At one impressive stage, the rock formation splits the flow into Three Sisters Falls, a trio of small waterfalls which tumble into a small pool in front of a precariously resting boulder below.

According to local folklore, a group of fairies reside in this other-worldly landscape. These fairy folk are known to have a sinister side and once used their sweet-sounding music to lure a hunting party, in pursuit of a white stag, into the Hen Hole’s deep cleft, never to be seen again. 

An extract from ‘The Allure of Falling Water’ as featured in This Is Northumberlnd 2024.

Photography by Callum Thompson