Scotland
Affric Kintail Way
Coming soon
- On trail 15.2 mi 24.5 km
- Walking time 7–8 h
- Ascent 640 m 2,100 ft
- Descent 530 m 1,750 ft
- Difficulty Moderate
Heather moor, then forest track, to the foot of the Cheviots.
Section 14: Bellingham to Byrness map
Example stay Forest View Walkers Inn (opens in a new tab)
Cross-check: Pennine Way route description on National Trails . The walk follows that page's sixteen days, checked 17 October 2026. Distance and climb are measured on our line between these ends, not taken from its mile figures.
The walk
A comparatively easy day, in two clear halves, to reach the foot of the Cheviots. First the moors over Whitley Pike and Brownrigg Head: wonderful views, purple heather in September, and bog that swallows your boots time and again. Then the forest: stony tracks with no bogs and few views, welcome at first, then a monotonous pounding that may have you missing the swamps. The day ends at Byrness, barely a village, at the edge of Redesdale.
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Start of section
Bellingham
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Bog
Whitley Pike and the heather
Wide views north to the Cheviots and enchanting purple heather in September, but bog-hopping skills required.
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Into the forest
Beyond Brownrigg Head the moor gives way to plantation and stony forest roads. Easy to follow, hard on the feet.
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Night
Byrness
A handful of houses in Redesdale and the last night before the Cheviot ridge. The Forest View Walkers Inn serves walkers.
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End of section
Byrness
Section 14: Bellingham to Byrness overview
The ground
- Heather moor
- Bog
- Forest track
A shorter day of bog, then forest track. Easier than the day before and far easier than the Cheviots after it. The boggy moor and the hard forest tracks are the only tests.
Stops
Refreshments
- Nothing to buy on the way
- so stock up at the Co-op in Bellingham. Byrness has the Forest View Walkers Inn and little else; some places to stay supply packed lunches and meals
Toilets
- No source used for this section names a public toilet
Before you go
Opposite direction
Byrness to Bellingham
Walked north to south, this is the first day after the Cheviots: forest tracks out of Byrness, then the boggy heather moor over Brownrigg Head and Whitley Pike down to Bellingham, the first proper shop for days.
End of section
Bellingham
Bellingham to Byrness FAQ
Is Bellingham to Byrness hard?
One of the easier days: shorter than most, with a boggy moor first and then forest roads. Save your energy for the Cheviots.
Where do I stay in Byrness?
Byrness has very few beds: the Forest View Walkers Inn and a few cottages and lodges nearby. Book early, and ask for a packed lunch for the ridge.
Can I download a GPX for Bellingham to Byrness?
Yes. Use the GPX button at the top of this page. It is this section's line, for Garmin, Komoot, or your phone. Open the planner if you want a file built around your overnight stops.
Walk this as a day
Used as Day 14 on the 15-day. Open the planner on that preset, then export a full-trip or per-day GPX.
Open in planner Read the 15-day itinerary
Full-trip and per-day GPX files. Free, no account.
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