Oh yes, we have no ospreys. (Northumberland ) July 30th.
A second shot at spotting ospreys again for Dave and I, walking Kielder water from the dam to the castle. A map is not essential but OS OL 42 Kielder Water covers the area.
It is a linear walk so needs a little organisation, either two cars or use the bus as we did. Unfortunately the bus only runs from Kielder village to Hexham on a Tuesday and Friday so choose your days. The bus, run by APT leaves Kielder village at 9am and only takes a quarter of an hour to the dam. There is no longer a shop in Kielder so make sure you have supplies for the day too.
There is a car park beyond Kielder castle but we were a bit cheeky and left our vehicle on the street. The building on the right used to be the village shop but now it is only a post office, open for a few hours each week day.
The track that runs all the way round the lake is almost a marathon, it is very well signposted so easy to follow.
Leaving the dam the two of us walked the track, which is open to walkers and cyclists, to Tower Knowe where there is a visitor centre, car park and display on the dam construction. Strolling along in the sunshine on a path bordered by summer flowers, it was the start of a good day.
Walking on we kept an eye open for one of the birds, there are six nesting sites at the moment, five of them having chicks, so we expected mum and dad to be out finding breakfast for their broods.
Easy to follow, frequent marker posts too.
At Bull Crag Peninsula we opted for the cut off and instead of following the track round the lakeside took the paths through woodland over the peninsula and back down to the water about a mile from Leaplish Waterside Park.
Before the park we settled on a bench with a fine view of the water for lunch, it seemed a good spotting site.
Mrs Tiggy Winkle at the Herbie spot
Herbie time view. One of the nesting sites is visible through binoculars on the skyline of the picture but I am sworn to secrecy.
A short distance beyond the lunch spot is a bird hide, Squirrel Hide. Through the windows we watched flocks of chaffinches and a few nuthatches tucking in to the peanuts and seeds. A young man told us there were 900 squirrels in Kielder forest, but there were non round here today. He also informed us he had seen an osprey that day.
Moving on to the visitor centre at Leaplish we called in at the Osprey Centre. A small shed has a good information display on the birds and a record of sightings. A small TV dish hinted at the position of the nest used for osprey watching, the camera being attached to the nesting pole. Using this we managed to work out where one nest is, but I'm not telling.
Freya's hut, before you reach Leaplish. Across the lake is Robin's shed, the two were lovers who finally found happiness.
As we left Leaplish the heavens opened, wisely we sheltered under a tree, hoping there was no thunder storm around. After the heavy shower we walked on, going under the road bridge at Matthew's Linn, walking up stream, crossing the award winning footbridge and going back under the road bridge. There were a number of canoes on the water with noisy crews, male and female. A man explained they were soldier cadets out on a week's adventure training. They were obviously enjoying it. There were a number of house martins nests on the bridge, surprising as it is smooth concrete.
Footbridge and road bridge at Matthew's Linn
Nearing Kielder we called in at the Butteryhaugh bird hide. The same young man gave us a list of his sightings from this hide. He had had a busy day.
Butteryhaugh hide.
View from Butteryhaugh hide
Public art or bench? Very well carved though
From the hide we walked on to Butteryhaugh, site of the village school and once the site of a Youth Hostel.
Couldn't resist taking this photo!
From Butteryhaugh we walked up to the castle for tea and a look at the osprey nest and its occupants shown on a large TV set. The only time we had seen one of the birds all day. Never mind, it was a good walk.
We walked the other way round.
Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2019.
This walk is about 12.5 miles, but easy going.
A second shot at spotting ospreys again for Dave and I, walking Kielder water from the dam to the castle. A map is not essential but OS OL 42 Kielder Water covers the area.
It is a linear walk so needs a little organisation, either two cars or use the bus as we did. Unfortunately the bus only runs from Kielder village to Hexham on a Tuesday and Friday so choose your days. The bus, run by APT leaves Kielder village at 9am and only takes a quarter of an hour to the dam. There is no longer a shop in Kielder so make sure you have supplies for the day too.
The track that runs all the way round the lake is almost a marathon, it is very well signposted so easy to follow.
Leaving the dam the two of us walked the track, which is open to walkers and cyclists, to Tower Knowe where there is a visitor centre, car park and display on the dam construction. Strolling along in the sunshine on a path bordered by summer flowers, it was the start of a good day.
Walking on we kept an eye open for one of the birds, there are six nesting sites at the moment, five of them having chicks, so we expected mum and dad to be out finding breakfast for their broods.
At Bull Crag Peninsula we opted for the cut off and instead of following the track round the lakeside took the paths through woodland over the peninsula and back down to the water about a mile from Leaplish Waterside Park.
Before the park we settled on a bench with a fine view of the water for lunch, it seemed a good spotting site.
A short distance beyond the lunch spot is a bird hide, Squirrel Hide. Through the windows we watched flocks of chaffinches and a few nuthatches tucking in to the peanuts and seeds. A young man told us there were 900 squirrels in Kielder forest, but there were non round here today. He also informed us he had seen an osprey that day.
Moving on to the visitor centre at Leaplish we called in at the Osprey Centre. A small shed has a good information display on the birds and a record of sightings. A small TV dish hinted at the position of the nest used for osprey watching, the camera being attached to the nesting pole. Using this we managed to work out where one nest is, but I'm not telling.
As we left Leaplish the heavens opened, wisely we sheltered under a tree, hoping there was no thunder storm around. After the heavy shower we walked on, going under the road bridge at Matthew's Linn, walking up stream, crossing the award winning footbridge and going back under the road bridge. There were a number of canoes on the water with noisy crews, male and female. A man explained they were soldier cadets out on a week's adventure training. They were obviously enjoying it. There were a number of house martins nests on the bridge, surprising as it is smooth concrete.
Nearing Kielder we called in at the Butteryhaugh bird hide. The same young man gave us a list of his sightings from this hide. He had had a busy day.
From the hide we walked on to Butteryhaugh, site of the village school and once the site of a Youth Hostel.
Couldn't resist taking this photo!
From Butteryhaugh we walked up to the castle for tea and a look at the osprey nest and its occupants shown on a large TV set. The only time we had seen one of the birds all day. Never mind, it was a good walk.
Contains OS data, copyright. Crown copyright and database right 2019.
This walk is about 12.5 miles, but easy going.
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