The cache is an A5ish click-lock box in a camo bag, the best route to find it is to follow the waymarked Duchess Trail from Kielder Castle or the carpark. The route is surfaced for most of the way, except for the last stretch, which runs through a level meadow. It’s close to the kids’ playground next to the Castle, as well as the Gruffalo trail.
Kielder Burn Smolt Trap
Salmon and trout spend most of their lives in the deeper water of the sea and lower reaches of the River Tyne. However, they need the shallow waters of tributaries like the Kielder Burn to spawn – lay their eggs and fertilise them – and for the very young fish (fry) to grow. When Kielder Water was built as a reservoir in the 1970s, it cut off the headwaters to these migrating fish. An Act of Parliament decreed that at least 160,000 fry need to be restocked in the river every year to mitigate the effects of the reservoir, and the nearby Kielder Salmon Centre was set up to harvest, fertilise and hatch the eggs.
The fry are taken to the headwaters in the hills which are known as nursery streams. Once the fry are big enough to begin migrating downstream they are called smolt. Now they need to get past that reservoir to reach the sea. Every April and May thousands of smolt are caught in the weir here by specially trained staff from the Environment Agency. They are monitored and then carefully carried to the village of Falstone, just beneath Kielder dam, where they are released back into the River North Tyne to continue their lives.
The genetics of the fish and the fertilisation of the eggs is scientifically measured to make sure that the genetic diversity and local adaptations of the population is conserved. This complex work is essential to maintain the healthy river ecosystem, and it also supports the local economy.
Look out for Wildlife
On the Kielder Burn – herons, kingfishers, dippers, dragonflies
In the meadow – butterflies, pollinating insects, many different types of flowers and grasses
In the woodlands – native British trees (oaks, birch, hazel, ash), song birds, red squirrels, minibeasts in the bark, mosses and lichens
Local History
Kielder Castle was built in 1775 as a shooting lodge for the Duke of Northumberland. It is Grade II listed and was rebuilt in the mid 19thcentury. The playground is in the castle’s pleasure grounds and the Minotaur Maze is in the castle’s walled garden.
The Duchess Trail follows a carriage route through the grounds, and the stone humpback bridge near to this cache was built as part of that drive.
Living Wild Geocaches
This cache is one of a series placed as part of Kielder’s Heritage Lottery funded Living Wild project to help people discover some of the special wildlife, habitats and history of Kielder Water & Forest Park. These places are recommended by the people in the know - the rangers and volunteers - and let you find some of their favourite places for yourself.
Please visit www.visitkielder.com for more information and events.
Local information
Expect NO mobile phone signal at Kielder. Anything you do get is a bonus!
You may be able to get WiFi at the trailhead and in Kielder Village.
Check the weather reports for Kielder as the weather can be more extreme than elsewhere. Dress appropriately and bring supplies.
Between mid-May and late-September, effective insect repellent is heartily recommended!
During the winter (roughly October to February half terms) Kielder can be very quiet indeed and you should ring ahead to check whether pubs, visitor centres, cafes, shops etc. will be open if you plan to use them. In an emergency, there is usually someone at Kielder Waterside Park (Leaplish).