WORDS RICH ROTHWELL
There’s a climb in the Cheviots that strikes fear into even the skinniest northern local. The direct route up Windy Gyle. It’s three kilometres long and tops out at over 600m. In classic Cheviot style, the ground is springy grass at best, wheelsucking saturated sponge at worst (read ‘usually’). The bottom is very steep, the middle bit is pretty steep, and the top 150m is very, very steep. So fair to say it’s a steep climb. Then at the top of the very, very steep bit (when your heart is popping out your ears), the ruts and steps start, carved into the peat by hillwalkers (or exhausted hikeabikers).
It is a total git.