Knock Hill (NT 99584 16499) with its attendant gorge is an impressive feature on the road towards Linhope. It is composed of ignimbrite, and gives evidence that the Cheviot volcanic system was explosive, and produced abundant pyroclastic surges and ash fall, as well as andesite lava flows.
The 1” OS geological map notes a ‘hypersthene-porphyrite’ dyke which we locate at NT 99584 16499 on the south side of the Breamish burn, just beyond the road bridge.
From here, a walk to the upper reaches of the Linhope Burn (around NT 94094 17459) and on to the Standrop Burn. (NT 93794 17839) There is a dacite dyke showing in the streambed just above the two burns’ confluence.
The streambed reveals a variety of rock types. The coarse-grained (Standrop) and finer-grained pink (Dunmoor) varieties in evidence. There is also a much finer grained pale rock similar to the ‘evolved’ granophyre from the Cheviot.
According to Al-Hafdh, this is ‘Woolhope’ granite, part of a ring dyke that circles from the upper Standrop Burn area through to the upper Dunmoor Burn area.