Kielder 15/3/2025

A lovely sunny day started with the nice short coach journey from Newcastle to Kielder where we gathered for a group photo by the squirrel statue before setting off on our separate walks.

One half of the medium group set out along the reservoir edge passing underneath the viaduct and seeing a bench with wooden otters carved into it. We then continued on in the warm sun enjoying the views out across the reservoir. We then turned up Lewis burn crossing a wonderfully engineered footbridge. Before following up the burn where we saw a buzzard. After ascending half way up the side of Currick we stopped for lunch enjoying lovely south westerly views. We then left the nice gravel tracks and headed through the tussocks and trees up to the top of Currick where we found some boardwalks before we left these and slipped through the small path in the woods down towards the observatory. After enjoying the suntrap that the observatory veranda was we continued down the hill and had a sing inside the man made cave with a hole in the roof for stargazing which had lovely acoustics. We then descended back down to the pub by the stream where we met Rebekah and waited for the other groups to join us.

The short walk went up the burn and then down to the sculpture of the big head before retuning to the pub.

Laurie led the long walk along the lake and up past Wainhope bothy to the top of Monkside (513m) where the paved summit was enjoyed.

Matthew Walker and Jacob led the other half half of the medium group up past the observatory and through the dense trees up to the top of Currick (454m) before descending down to the burn and back along the top end of the reservoir.

Overall a lovely day out in the sun (some of us should have worn a sunhat (Laurie)) and a lovely chatty bus driver as well. Thanks to everyone who came and made it a lovely day. – Josh