River Glen

The River Glen is a seven-mile tributary of the River Till in Northumberland. It begins where the College Burn and Bowmont Water meet near Kirknewton. The river flows past small settlements like Yeavering, Lanton, Coupland, Akeld and Ewart. It winds through the valley of Glendale before joining the Till. The Glen’s course is lined with gentle hills and farmland. The Glen’s banks hold deep historical layers. Iron Age hillforts overlook the Anglo-Saxon settlement at Yeavering, where St Paulinus baptised converts in the river. The area saw fierce border battles, including the Battle of Humbleton Hill in 1402 and the Battle of Geteryne in 1415. Some scholars link the river to the legendary King Arthur’s first battle at the mouth of the Glein. Archaeologists continue to uncover traces of early British and Anglo-Saxon life along its banks. Visitors walk quiet paths beside the river’s clear waters. The landscape offers open views of rolling hills and scattered farmsteads. At Yeavering, the remains of the palace site stand close to the water. The riverbank is lined with rushes and willows, and herons often fish in the shallows. The valley’s peace contrasts with its turbulent past.