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Above Kielder Dam

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Walk directions

From the western end of Hawkhope car park, follow the wide multi-user path round the back of a slipway and boatyard. The track meanders through the lower fringe of the forest, shortly crossing a footbridge. Further on, the trail winds in above an inlet, shortly reaching a junction.

Signed to the Wave Chamber, a narrow path leads away to the left, crossing the marshy isthmus onto The Belling. Reaching a fork, keep right, the path skirting the bulbous peninsula to rise over its craggy snout, cloaked in trees. The path descends beyond to a corbelled stone beehive hut on the shore of the lake, the Wave Chamber. Go inside, shut the door and sit down. Once your eyes adjust to the gloom, you will see an image of the lake's rippling waves projected onto the floor, while their gentle sound is magnified by the bell-shaped structure. The effect is best on a blustery day.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Mostly good surfaced tracks, no stiles

Landscape - Lake surrounded by forested hills

Dog friendliness - Dogs can be off lead

Parking - Large pay-and-display car park at Hawkhope

Toilets en route - At car park

Walks in Northumberland Dog-friendly walks in Northumberland

About the walk

The most westerly limits of Northumberland are defined by the tortuous meanderings of the Scottish border. Here, where the population, already thin, reaches its lowest density, is the largest forest in England. And within this forest is Britain's largest man-made lake. The Percy and Swinburne... families owned much of the land around the valley of the River North Tyne and the Percys built Kielder Castle as a shooting lodge in 1775. During the 19th century, coal was mined on land now submerged by the reservoir. Some was used locally, while a good proportion was carried, by packhorse and later by railway, for sale across the border. The Forestry Commission is born By the mid-1930s mining had come to an end, but was set to be replaced by a new industry. In 1919 the Forestry Commission was formed to cater for Britain’s timber needs. In 1924 it bought 2,000 acres (810ha) near Falstone and, in 1932, a further 47,000 acres (19,035ha). Following World War II, more land was acquired and planting extended. To house the workers needed for this rapidly expanding enterprise, forestry villages were built at Kielder, in the centre of the forest, and at Byrness and Stonehaugh near its eastern edges. The various plantations that are now linked together to make up Kielder Forest cover a total area of 100,000 acres (40,500ha). The trees are made up almost entirely of five conifer species: Norway and sitka spruce, Scots and lodgepole pine and Japanese larch. Kielder Castle is one of three main centres in the forest and houses a visitor information centre. The largest reservoir in Britain In 1974 the order was made authorising the construction of Kielder Reservoir to provide water for the cities and industries of the northeast. Work began in 1975 and was completed five years later. In December 1980 Kielder Water began to fill up, and the scheme was officially opened in May 1982. The dam is 0.75 miles (1.2km) long and 170ft (52m) high. The shoreline encloses a reservoir 7 miles (11.3km) in length and has a capacity of 44 billion gallons (200 billion litres). Water is released through the valve tower, which rises from the lake 190yds (174m) from the dam. It flows into the North Tyne and from there to the Tyne. Some of the water is extracted at Riding Mill and pumped through a tunnel under the Durham moors into the Wear and the Tees. Controversy generated by the building of the reservoir has been silenced by the lake’s enormous recreational value and its undoubted enhancement of the scenery of the North Tyne Valley.

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About the area

If it’s history you’re after, there’s heaps of it in Northumberland. On Hadrian’s Wall you can imagine scarlet-cloaked Roman legionaries keeping watch for painted Pictish warriors while cursing the English weather and dreaming of home.

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Route details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

4.5 miles (7.2kms)

Ascent:

500ft (152m)

If you like this walk, you can try more routes in the area.

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Above Kielder Dam

Recommended by

Walk details

Difficulty:

Easy

Gradient:

Gentle

Distance:

4.5 miles (7.2kms)

Ascent:

500ft (152m)

Walk directions

1 of 5

2 of 5

Continue with the path around the peninsula, returning to the isthmus to pick up your outward path back to Point 2. Continue left along the main trail overlooking the shore, following it inland above a long, narrowing inlet. Eventually, cross a bridge at its head over the foot of Belling Burn. The trail swings left, rising for 70yds (64m) to a junction with a rough track off to the right.

3 of 5

Turn off up the track, pausing as you climb away to admire the prospect back across the lake. Reaching a junction with a broad forest road, go right, shortly dropping back into the valley. Recross the stream on a bridge and walk up to another junction.

4 of 5

To the right, the track rises easily away, later breaking from the trees to give a view across the inlet. Ignoring tracks off, stick with the main trail for 1.5 miles (2.4km), ultimately passing a barrier. The car park is then just a short distance along on the right.

5 of 5

Location

Starting point

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Mostly good surfaced tracks, no stiles

Landscape - Lake surrounded by forested hills

Dog friendliness - Dogs can be off lead

Parking - Large pay-and-display car park at Hawkhope

Toilets en route - At car park

Walks in Northumberland Dog-friendly walks in Northumberland

About the walk

Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

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Walking in Safety

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Been on this walk?

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About the area

Northumberland

Nearby places to stay

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Above Kielder Dam

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Above Kielder Dam

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