Yeavering Bell Wild Camp
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- Northumberland is home to the greatest concentration of hillforts in Britain. A great many are spectacular in their preservation rivalling anything Europe can offer. They have been spared attack by stone robbing, the plough and Antiquarian damage. In fact, the hilltops of Northumberland remain almost undisturbed since their last occupation over 1500 years ago.
The Bronze Age in Britain lasted roughly from 2500 to 700BC. In the early Bronze Age farming became established as an alternative to the nomadic Hunter-Gatherer lifestyle. This change meant that people began to settle which allowed increasing sophistication of bronze technology. There is evidence to suggest that, in the Bronze Age, the first phases of settlement began on the hilltops of Northumberland. Clusters of huts, the first roundhouses, perhaps surrounded by wooden palisade fences were established. The Bronze Age had a little more variety than today in terms of wildlife. There were wolves and bears in Britain at this point and that palisade seems a sensible idea!
By the Iron Age, which lasted from around 700BC to 100AD, the population had increased and most of Britain had been cleared of its native forests opening up new land for agriculture. The use of iron tools had accelerated the advance in farming techniques and efficiency. Hillforts reach their peak in the middle part of the Iron Age, around 200BC. Around this time we see the massive earthworks and stone ramparts appearing, replacing earlier timber structures.
Rising to 1182 feet, and thereby narrowly achieving the technical status of a mountain, the broad, sensuous, double-peaked bulk of Yeavering Bell dominates the north Cheviot foothills. It was formed in the Devonian period, some 350 million years ago in the violent volcanic eruptions which created the entire Cheviot range. The hills were sculpted into their present rounded shape by a succession of glaciers during the ice ages.
The Bell has always fired the human imagination and, indeed, local people still gauge the weather, time and the progress of the seasons with reference to the Bell. Four thousand years ago the people used the Bell to align stones and monuments. A neolithic burial cairn tops the eastern summit. It has always, it seems, been a place of significance. It still is.
Having a conspicuous shape wasn’t the only way Yeavering Bell captured the imagination. Luck has played an interesting role too, placing the hill, as would a Feng-Shui designer, in exactly the right place in the landscape. As you explore the Cheviots the hill often appears in view, in neat proportion and just where it needs to be to create a striking and memorable image. It peers over the horizon from the Cold Law path and greets travellers returning from Scotland.
The hill is crowned with the largest hill fort in Northumberland. The term ‘hillfort’ is misleading, as a casual visit will testify. Both peaks of the hill are surrounded by the tumbled remains of what must have been an immense and impressive wall surrounding a small village.
From the earliest days, Yeavering Bell has been a special place. A sacred place. A place today to fire the imagination. And really we know so little. We have glimpses of threads we would love to weave together to tell us more. To let us see the whole tapestry locked in the hills. Until the chance comes to investigate Yeavering and Ad Gefrin further we must be content to remain in the Dark Ages.
As anyone who has been to Yeavering Bell will tell you, climbing to that double summit is well worth the effort. Even simply for the splendid views to the North and out over the North Sea. The scenery to the south, over the Cheviot range, is staggering too. But the view into our past is where Yeavering can stop you in your tracks.
Been up there several times over the years. Always really windy. On a fine day i could sit for hours just watching the world go by. I like watching the gliders flying too. Thank you for sharing this.
Yes, wind seems to be a constant feature. They must have been a Hardy bunch to endure living up there. Glad you enjoyed it 👍
Can't move for the high educational content and handsome narrator
Always teaching!
Great video, look forward to seeing more of whats to come!
Best produced camping video I’ve seen and I’ve seen a fair few. Really enjoyed the historical side of the video.
Thank you so much. This really means a lot. I hope to have more videos coming in the next month or so, I hope you enjoy. 👍
Amazing video and sunrise 👍🙂
Thank you 👍
Well done..im off up there very soon..some fine footage here..enjoyed that 👍
Great video, as always. informative and beautiful in equal measures. Good to see Burt enjoying himself.
Many thanks uncle!
That sun at around 2:40, just wow. Looks like a nice camp and your pupper enjoyed it ey
New sub. Your attention to detail with research is excellent. An absolute pleasure to watch. A stunning hill yeavering in all weathers, you presented it beautifully. Incredible drone footage too. Looking forward to seeing whats to come on your channel. Good luck 🎉
Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Working on the next video at the moment 👍
Nice video, an amazing hill that, I had one of my best ever sunrises up there. Nicely narrated, Northumberland is drenched in so much history. Thanks for sharing, new sub. Atb Dave
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. I've been working my way through your back catalogue, some good stuff 👌
Well filmed
Cheers 👍
new Sub, enjoyed that mate...burgers looked great. How blessed are we to be surrounded by such beauty..TFS Steven
Cheers! Yes, they were pretty tasty. We do live in a gorgeous bit of the country.
Glad you enjoyed it, I've been enjoying lots of your videos recently, keep up the good work!
I'm just in Bulgaria at the minute hiking in the mountains. That'll probably be the next video, but I am dreading how long it's gonna take to edit! 🤦
I've just found your channel and can't believe you're not a million sub channel! Videography is incredible, narration great and educational. Plus who can resist a dog? Instant sub from me, look forward to future videos :)
Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate it and am glad you enjoyed the video. Unfortunately, unless I can start churning videos out weekly, the algorithm is not gonna do me any favours. But that's fine, I'm OK with quality over quantity. 👍
Great video. I done this hike earlier in the month. Would love to know what stove you are using?
Thank you. It is a great walk up! The stove I had with me this time was the alpkit brukit, its like a jetboil, easy to get water boiling quickly and comes with a pot attachment that fits inside and us handy for use with the frying pan. 👍
@@mountainsofthemind9294 brilliant thank you!