A strenuous circular walk of approx 8 miles on a mixture of good paths and open moorland with faint or non-existent tracks.
Whitfield Lough – the highest natural lake in Northumberland
This is an alternative route to that given previously .
As much of the walk is on Open Access Land, before undertaking the walk it is advisable to consult the general rules regarding walking on open access land:
https://www.gov.uk/right-of-way-open-access-land/use-your-right-to-roam
and for any specific temporary restriction that may be in place:
http://www.openaccess.naturalengland.org.uk/wps/portal/oasys/maps/MapSearch
and type “Whitfield” in the search box. Currently NO dogs are allowed on this stretch of Open Access Land.
The walk utilises a track known as the Shooters Track which gives easy access on to the 
moor. From near the end of the track there are excellent views back down the track and across the South Tyne Valley to Cold Fell. At the end of the track open moorland awaits and this is virtually pathless 
and rather boggy. Whitfield Lough itself is not visible until you are virtually upon it. 
Pikerigg Currick, at 525m above sea level the highest point on Whitfield Moor, can be seen on the horizon across the Lough and to visit this a circuit of the Lough is recommended going round in an anti-clockwise direction. If a visit to the Currick is not to be undertaken, on first seeing the Lough head for where the fence meets the Lough as shown in the top picture. The route down has been chosen to avoid the worst of the bogs by going down the Millstone Band ridge to Great Black Pike. On the way down there are excellent views across the valley to Cold Fell on a clear day. If however visibility is not good the route follows a wall virtually the whole way down.
Walking on Alston Moor 