Lakeshore walk along the sunnier, south facing bank of Kielder Water. Partly on the Lakeside Way multi-user route, but then following a rougher path for great views of the quiet Belling inlet and beach. This is a favourite place for the Kielder ospreys, swooping down to pull fish out of the water in their talons. After wintering in Africa, they migrate to Kielder to mate, usually arriving by April. Some have GPS tags and you can watch their return to Kielder here. One of a series of Living Wild at Kielder caches.
Getting there
This is a rolling walk through the forest, with frequent glimpses of the open water and shoreline with views across to Tower Knowe Visitor Centre. The route leaves Hawkhope Car Park on the Lakeside Way multi-user route. It passes the ruins of Gordon’s Walls and then loops around the Belling peninsula, taking in the Wave Chamber camera obscura and a trig pillar. The cache is and A5 click-lock box in a camo bag and is located above the high water and spray line, where the vista opens out to give you a clear view of The Belling inlet and beach.
Ospreys Angling
Ospreys are apex predators at the top of the food chain and they are one sign of a healthy environment. They became extinct as breeding birds in England in 1840. Ospreys returned to nest at Kielder in 2009 after the Forestry Commission installed a number of nesting platforms around Kielder Forest to attract them to stay here rather than move on north to Scotland and Scandinavia. In 2016, 11 chicks fledged from the four nests at Kielder. In 2017 the 50th chick fledged.
This narrow flooded valley is a favourite place for watching Kielder’s ospreys fishing. They seem to like it best in the mornings, perhaps because it catches the rising sun. If you miss them feeding at The Belling, you can join the Osprey Watch volunteers at Kielder Waterside betweenApril and mid-August. Here the volunteers will be on hand with telescopes so visitors can view Nest 1A and learn more about these iconic birds. Nest cameras showing activity from Nest 1A and Nest 2 also stream video to Kielder Castle Cafe and to the Osprey Cabin at Kielder Waterside. You can follow the birds’ migration, pairing, nesting and fledging by reading the blog, http://kielderospreys.wordpress.com.
There is a circular walk from Hawkhope Car Park down to Falstone village that takes in another cache and gives you access to toilets, playground and refreshments.
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 and Falstone Villages.
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).