In Northumberland, there is a spot where you can look down over not one, but two Tyne Valleys, the North and South.
Warden is just a short drive from Hexham, and its hill provides some of the most spectacular views in Northumberland. However, getting to a spot where you can enjoy those views requires a lot less effort that you might think, with a circular walking route possible in under two hours.
Earlier this month, Guardian Travel named this as one of the best winter walks with a surprise discovery - and it's one that will enthral and delight history buffs.
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I am going to mention what the surprise is (as did the Guardian's article), so if you want to discover it for yourself by going on the walk, scroll down to the bottom to find out how to get to Warden Hill.
For those who are happy to have the surprise ruined, let's imagine ourselves on a crisp January morning, with huge blue skies overhead, walking boots laced up and ready to embark on a short but sweet adventure.
The walk starts on a narrow path running parallel with the Tyne Valley Line which connects Newcastle and Carlisle. Unless a train rattles by, on a late morning walk you'll hear the birds twittering overhead, not quite drowning out the distant whoosh of traffic on the A69.
Follow that path for a few minutes until you reach the curiously named Quality Cottages, before taking a right up the hill - signposted for Fourstones. The surprise is still some way off - but you'll know you're heading in the right direction as it's all uphill and there's always either a wall or a fence at your side.
The fields were empty of any livestock, but that must have been temporary - as there were signs everywhere of sheep, most of which ended up on the bottom of my shoes.
You'll probably get that on yours too, as looking out over the South Tyne valley across to Fourstones is breath-taking. Especially in good weather, when the fields of the valley below are laid out like patchwork, and the blue-grey of the Tyne snakes through against the backdrop of the hills.
Those wide open fields give way to a path through woodland after a while. When you get to a sign for Warden, pointing to the right, follow that path on a short, steep incline through the trees. You'll pass through another gate - the surprise is moments away.
At this point, instead of continuing on the path by the wall, it's a steep trek uphill. It's only as I'm about to reach the brow of the hill that the 'surprise' unveils itself - an Iron Age hill fort.
Dating back to some time between 1200BC and 600BC, it's how the nearby village got it's name - Warden comes from Old English for a lookout hill.
And at 230 metres above sea level, it's also where you'll find the walk's most spectacular views.
Whichever direction you look, you really can see for miles. There are villages and valleys, river and railways, all far down below. I stay for a while, transfixed, before the horn of a locomotive cuts through the air reminding me that as much as I'd like to spend all day here, I should go and interview some people.
It's at this point you have a decision to make regarding heading back down to Warden. Doing the route as a full loop and heading through the hamlet of High Warden is very picturesque and pretty. However, that will also mean walking a chunk back to your car on the road. For some, that can be a bit daunting - especially on narrow country roads.
The best views are at the top of the hill, so you won't be missing much if you turn back the way you came.
On my way down from the hill fort, I finally came face to face livestock. Luckily, not cows, but sheep. I gave them their space - mostly because it's the right thing to do, but also because the last time I got close to a sheep, I was removing a tick from my thigh less than 24 hours later.
After trading muddy fields for a gravel track, the trek down is pretty swift. There's less in terms of views on this route, though the Church of St. Michael & All Angels in Warden looks pretty from the road.
I completed the loop in roughly an hour and a half, and there were plenty of stops for pictures. With daylight hours still relatively short, it's hard to think of a walk that packs so much in over such a short time. It's worth the journey.
How to get to Warden Hill
The best way to get to Warden Hill is by car. Turn off the A69 towards Fourstones and when you see the Boatside Inn pub, take a right. The road is signposted for Warden, but you don't need to go all the way to the village. There's a muddy layby just after the Railway Bridge where you can park. On a sunny day in January, mine was the only car there - but that may not be the case once the weather gets warmer.
