A walk in the Cheviots - Dere Street, Woden Law, and Chew Green

This walk begins at a road junction near Kale Water in Teviotdale, not far from the England - Scotland border. The route heads south along the Roman road Dere Street, built in AD 79-81, that linked York (Eboracum) to the Firth of Forth and later the Antonine Wall. A diversion up the steep slopes of Woden Law leads to the ramparts of an Iron Age hillfort that encircles the summit. Here there are three main phases of construction dating back at least 2000 years, and some earthworks on the southern slopes which may be where the Romans practiced their siege techniques. The walk returns to Dere Street, and follows the old track as it crosses the border into England to reach Chew Green. Chew Green is a complex of different Roman encampments at the head of the Coquet valley, comprising a fort, two fortlets and two camps, with the remians of a deserted medieval settlement overlaying some of the ditches and banks. The route then heads north from Coquet Head over smooth Cheviot hills to pick up the Kale Water and return to the start.