Falstone - Smalesmouth - The Bower - Hott - Donkleywood - Falstone

Peter Harper

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Falstone - Smalesmouth - The Bower - Hott - Donkleywood - Falstone

On this walk it is possible to step back in time and get an impression of what the North Tyne Valley must have been like before the Forestry Commission planted vast swathes of pine forest around Kielder and before the dam was built, creating the Kielder Reservoir. The walk starts at the village of Falstone below the Kielder Dam and goes through a variety of landscapes. There is the inevitable forest track initially, but this is kept to a minimum and the rest of the walk is over open fell, woodland and riverside, with some quiet country lanes thrown in for good measure. The only people that you are likely to meet in the early stages of the walk are the lone hill farmer out on his quad bike, or perhaps a Forestry Commission worker. Returning to Kielder there is a tea room and pub for refreshments and a further pub in the nearby hamlet of Stannersburn, on the main road to Kielder.

England - North England - Northumberland - Northumberland National Park

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Church, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Moor, Pub, River, Tea Shop, Wildlife, Woodland

9/30/2013 - ruth day

Further comment:- The walk took us 4 hrs 20 mins and we are both retired.We saw no other walkers. The farmer at Whitchester said 'we get nobody up here since the right to roam came in'

9/30/2013 - ruth day

We walked this route yesterday,our comments are 1) point 7 either of 2 bridges would better read:- Take the 2nd as this takes you directly on to the track you want. 2)Point 9 we did not find a grassy mound but we did find a grassy bank/ridge which ended in a metal gate into a field which we crossed to reach the road 3)Point13&14 a lot of metal gates but no signs we went under the railway onto the road at Camp cottage Finally be aware that the Bellingham -Keilder road is used by bikers traveling at high speeds. Hope this will be helpful. This was enjoyable and varied walk.