Hethpool Linn is magical. A crystal clear emerald river flows through a narrow gorge with a small but stunning waterfall completing the scene. The surrounding woodland gives the pool a secret feel, keeping it hidden from all but those who know where to look.
It’s an idyllic spot with an air of peaceful tranquility that invites you to linger far longer than you might ever have intended.
The walk is short and easy and if all that sounds to good to be true, you need to go and visit for yourself!
Here’s how to find it.
The walk to Hethpool Linn
The stats
Distance: 0.75 miles (1.2km) each way
Elevation gain: 50m
Difficulty: Easy
Trailhead: College Valley Car Park, Hethpool
Summary: The walk to reach Hethpool Linn is almost entirely flat. There is one brief descent, but it’s really very minor.
The paths are in good condition, with the only slightly rougher bit being the final couple of metres down to the pool, but even then it’s just a few steps.
The walk
From the car park (full details below) you begin by heading back along the road you drove in on. After 320m you’ll reach a signpost and you want to head right, it’s signposted as St. Cuthbert's Way. This is when you will come to the very short paved descent.
You’re surrounded by huge hills and rolling fields making for an incredibly picturesque start to the walk. At the 450m mark you need to bear left, over the stile and into the field.
There were quite a few horses on our visit, all of which were very amiable and added to the gorgeous countryside scene.
You’ll cross the field and come to a gate. Pass through the gate and follow the narrow path to a small section of boardwalk.
Take an immediate right after the boardwalk and follow the path along the fence line. The views are just stunning and the path is still flat and leisurely.
At the 980m mark you’ll reach another stile and can climb over it and make an immediate right. Alternatively there’s a gate a little further to the right and they both arrive in the same place, so you can choose either route.
Roughly 170m later you’ll see a worn trail branching off to the right, this leads to a partial view over the waterfall, but the paths down to the pool are slightly further on.
The best path is 50m further on (there’s another path on the right before this one, but it’s a slightly more slippery track).
The path down has a couple of steps of loose soil and then there are a couple of rocks to climb down and you’ll arrive at the foot of the pool.
Swimming at Hethpool Linn
Hethpool Linn waterfall cascades into a long emerald pool that flows through a narrow gorge. Woodland surrounds the gorge shielding it from view and giving the pool a secluded hidden away feel. The water is crystal clear and catches the light beautifully on a sunny day. It really is the most idyllic spot.
Entering the water is easy as you can step off the lower rocks along the gorge and into shallow water. There are some rocks just as you enter which are slippery, but you can sit and slide in easily enough.
The water is not especially deep, but it is deep enough to swim and you can head up through the gorge to another pool beyond.
It’s really a continuation of the same pool, but it feels slightly different as there are some large rocks inside the water which semi separate the two.
Watch out for the ones just as you’ve swum through the gorge walls as it’s easy to knock into them.
There are a second set of large rocks to watch out for as you get closer towards the cascade, but inbetween there is room to swim and the setting is magical.
There are deep and shallow sections, so there’s something for everyone and though there isn’t room for long uninterrupted swims due to the aforementioned rocks, the pools and setting are sublime, so you won’t be disappointed.
Our favourite pools are the ones we’ve mentioned but you can also continue through the river in the opposite direction to the falls.
If going directly from the pools this mainly involves rock hopping and after a few minutes you will come to a bridge above another small shallow pool. Alternatively you can walk along the main track above and cut down along the rocky track when you see the bridge, again it takes just a minute to reach and is the easier route (though the rock hopping is not overly challenging). Beyond this the gorge narrows significantly.
When you’re ready to leave the pools you simply retrace your steps back to the car park.
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the area, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
Parking for Hethpool Linn
The College Valley car park is located in Hethpool, postcode NE71 6TW, you can find it on Google maps here. It’s the last point you can drive to before you reach the permitted area of the College Valley. The car park is free of charge and has no time restrictions. Note that there are no facilities here or anywhere else along the trail.
It’s around a 28 mile drive from Rothbury (45 mins) and 27 miles from Alnwick (45 mins).
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, that we will earn a small commission if you click through and decide to make a purchase. This helps towards the costs of running our website. Thanks for your support.
