Get wild at KielderThis walk links Bakethin Nature Reserve with Kielder Castle. You really are taken off the beaten track. Narrow paths weave through natural woodland where quite often the only sound is the mewing of a buzzard overhead or the startled chatter of small woodland birds.

We use Exmoor ponies to graze a scientifically important area of heath and marshy grassland near the eastern end of the viaduct. The ponies keep down tough grasses and shrubs, allowing a more varied mix of plants and wild flowers to grow.

Look for nibbled pine cones like these – a sure sign that there are squirrels about!

The unmistakable long-tailed tit. These characterful little birds can be seen flitting around in large groups, feeding on insects, or in winter, seeds.

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Kielder Castle & Bakethin22⁄3 miles/4.2km (or 11⁄3 miles/2.1km)

KIELDER WILD WALKS

Kielder Water

Tower KnoweVisitor Centre

Kielder CastleVisitor Centre

Bakethin NatureReserve

KielderWaterside

Hawkhope

Falstone

Bellingham

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How to get thereThe walk starts from Kielder Castle. The main car park is nearby. OS grid ref NY 631 934Postcode for sat navs: NE48 1ER

Go wild with the app!You can follow this walk using the Viewranger app. It includes GPS directions, information and audio clips on what to look out for: www.viewranger.comMake sure you download before you visit.

Thank you to our partner Forestry Commission England for use of the Ordnance Survey based mapping.

All details were accurate at the time of going to print Jan 2019. Please refer to www.visitkielder.com for updates.

web www.visitkielder.comemail info@visitkielder.comcall 0345 155 0236

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This walk starts from Kielder Castle and is well waymarked with purple ‘Wild Walk’ plaques (see right). The full route is 22⁄3 miles/4.2 km. There are two short cuts. Short cut A goes via Kielder Salmon Centre (check for opening times) and is 11⁄3 miles/2.1 km. Short cut B allows you to avoid the viaduct and is 2¼ miles/3.5 km. NB This leaflet shows the route in a clockwise direction, but the route is also waymarked anticlockwise from Bakethin Nature Reserve back to Kielder Castle.www.visitkielder.com/visit/kielder-salmon-centre

Kielder Castle to Bakethin The route takes you away from surfaced tracks and on to uneven woodland paths which can be muddy in places. Suitable footwear required.

Image courtesy of the John Alsop Collection

Ospreys : © Forestry Commission

The viaduct once carried trains on the Border Counties Line, which ran from Hexham to the Scottish Borders. Kielder was the next station heading north (pictured below in around 1905). From the viaduct look for the tall pole we installed on the island to encourage ospreys to build a nest here. Bakethin is one of the best places to see these magnificent birds fishing; they have come to Kielder each year to breed since 2009.

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