Logged Visits:

13th Aug 2023  00:00  by Llondon

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Not Logged  Score: 5/10

11th Aug 2023  13:36  by jonglew

Gridref: NT 79562 02300   FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Parked to WNW on Cottonshope Rd (NT 7827 0293). Took mapped RoW east to cross Cottonshope Burn and proceed up through dense bracken on a narrow track, not easy to find the start; track keeps going eastward up the hill, then followed fenceline SSE along to the trig. Pillar sits at an angle of the fence; centre cap missing, no plug. RHD side sight hole open, front plug degrading. Extensive panoramic views.

Pillar TP2818©jonglew
Spider TP2818©jonglew
Flush Bracket TP2818©jonglew

26th Dec 2022  11:45  by Walker Dan

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Straightforward walk from the A68. Track to gate then quad bike track almost to trig. After some wet weather it was a bit boggy in places but easily stepped over most of it. Cold and windy but a refreshing Boxing Day walk. Nice new coat of white paint as well, someone has been busy around a number of Northumbrian trigs this year.

Snowy day

10th Sep 2022  12:43  by S1534&Beyond

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 8/10

2nd of 3 today. A retrospective log. My notes state limited parking and a challenging trig as my 1st attempt from the ranges (non firing day) was aborted due to a flooded burn. The bridleway in the woods was barely passable and much damage from Storm Arwen. A 6 1/4 mile walk in total. Trig in the cusp of the danger area. Spider missing.

The trig ©S1534&Beyond

17th Apr 2022  00:00  by carolje

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

30th Apr 2021  15:00  by slateloose

Gridref: NT 79500 02200   FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Parked in the lay bye on A68 near stony track which heads up towards cairn, walked stony track then followed quad bike track north which runs almost parallel 100/200 yards out from the forest fence line to the trig point. Stunning views of the border hills and the Cheviot hill with a light covering of snow.

22nd Mar 2021  12:01  by NJM

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

My second visit, different route, this time pretty much as described by A1M below. A much better route than my first visit which was a real slog across the Ranges from the E on a non firing day. Nothing 'dour' about the hill on a bright sunny spring morning, great 360 views.

View North West Storm's OS Pillar #173
View South
View West

29th Nov 2020  15:23  by A1Mushroom

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Nice big layby on the southbound side, just at the end of the forest. A rocky track runs from the layby to the cairn on the map. A quad track then takes you up the hill to the east of the trig. The heather has been cut back from here to the trig. Instead of walking back along the quad tracks, bog hopping and thigh high wet grasses i made my way down the fence line to 'Kip End' & the 'Long Cairn' where I would pick up one of the logging tracks as they are felling the plantation here. The track to the west of Kip End is the maintained logging road. The track to the south of Kip End is a little over grown and thigh high wet grasses, but the conifers are not so close to make it a pain.

1st Nov 2020  10:24  by Oldhortus

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Convenient layby on the A 68 from there due north over rough moorland to the trig. Amazing view of the Northumberland landscape.

31st May 2019  18:00  by beckroad

Gridref: NT 79600 02400   FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Our 2nd of two trigs today. Continuing our walk from Hungry Law we followed the perimeter of the forest park boundary NE to join the Pennine Way at nt777077. Heading south via Houx Hill we descended to the Cottonshope Road, over the burn then uphill towards Dour Hill. This trig is next to a fence. Our return route through the forest didn't happen. Bridleway is overgrown and impassable. A long walk ,partially via the road, ensued. The Forest View Inn is a smashing place for a well deserved real ale at the end of an epic walk.

Dour Hill Looking N.
Bridleway entrance at nt797013 Impassable route through the forest. Looking E.

16th Jul 2017  21:08  by Nick&Rosie

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

As it was a 'Non-Firing Day' on the Ranges we headed north from Rochester and parked up along Bellshiel Road and made our way west. It being very late in the day we navigated more by heading directly towards the setting sun, and following a convenient ATV track, which was a mistake as the sun was setting in the north west and not in the WSW direction we needed to head - consequently we ended up much closer to Lamb Crag a good distance north from where we wanted to be. Was very surprised to see in the distance another walker out on the ridge at that time of night (by now it was almost 9pm Sunday evening), and then another, and then a dozen more...it was a platoon of 'our boys' out on an exercise! Beautiful evening, fantastic sunset, great vantage point and good exercise over rough ground - perfect end to the weekend.

View North
View East with Rosie
View South
View West

26th Mar 2017  00:00  by caroleengel

Gridref: NT 79563 02294   FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

MOD land now extended west and includes the pillar. Used mapped track from south which leads to a good ATV from NT799012 to NT797023. Short stretch heather from here to trig to west

25th Mar 2017  11:10  by sheepsocks

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Not sure why this was one of the least visited English trigs as it's only a 45mins, not too strenuous, walk from a main road, has no access problems and the view is open and more interesting than some other Kielder trigs. Maybe it's the name. But now it's had 3 visits in 6 months so it's not so lonely! Walked up through forest track (well-used at first, then overgrown), followed by freestyle up moorland beside fence in glorious sunshine.

28th Dec 2016  10:54  by paulxtr

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Parked in forest track entrance off A68 directly S of pillar. Walked northwards up the track until it petered out then crossed the fence and up the steep heathery slope to the trig. Another great wide Northumberland view.

Dour Hill ©paulxtr

11th Sep 2016  10:15  by Borderer

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 6/10

Parked at the end of the forest road on the A68 and took the surfaced track to a point west of the pillar then up the steep bank. Managed to keep dry despite early morning rain. Impressive views at the summit and on the route up. Surprising that this is the first logged visit since 2008 considering it's location.

©Borderer

16th Apr 2008  14:48  by coinea

Gridref: NT 79562 02293   FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

S7697 Dour Hill.m

16th Apr 2008  14:44  by clochandighter

Gridref: NT 79559 02292   FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Pillar completed 19th November 1953 costing £17.7s.6d. Computed as tertiary station NT72/T27 in 1957. Levelled in 1958. Last maintained by the OS in November 1986. In 2008, the pillar is still in good condition. Spider centre is open. RHS sight hole open, others plugged. Flush bracket faces 94°, East. Photographed 16/04/2008, GRP.

S7697 - Dour Hill pillar & FB

8th Apr 2007  15:00  by andyc

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Lovely day on Easter weekend. Followed bridleway from forest edge on the Cottonshope army road. Lovely drive over the ranges afterwards.

29th Aug 2004  12:00  by peregrinus

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

vgc, no cap or plug, nice heathery summit, wide view - Access:from S: forest tk then exit to open grnd, or cross moorld, scrappy at first

S7697 fb ©peregrinus
S7697 top ©peregrinus
S7697 trig ©peregrinus

22nd Jul 2002  13:15  by jimmy

FB Number: S7697  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10