Northumberland widlife best places to go

[cookieyum]

Planning on visiting Northumberland at the end of april start of may already decided to visit Keilder forest and the Farne Islands

I be grateful for any advice about visiting the Farne Islands and good spts in the forest as it quite large and any guidance about other places in the region for seeing wildlife, particularly for birdlife and butterflies (though i know some won't fly till later in the seaon)

thanks for any advice

andrew

[aeshna5]

For the Farnes go to the quay at Seahouses where various operators do boat trips to the islands. You can do a half or full day visit. In the morning landings are to Staple Island + in the afternoon landings are permitted on Inner Farne- this half day to an island is to reduce stress to the birds. Ther's a landing fee for non National Trust members. Expect amazing views of seabirds + Grey Seals. Hopefully the seas will be calm enough for crossings.

Lindisfarne is a wonderful place to visit nearby, but check the tide tables before going across to Holy Island or you may get stuck as it's only accessible by foot/car at low tide.

If you go in May perhaps go to Amble + take a boat trip (no landing) around Coquet Island which has a breeding colony of Roseate Terns.

The Cheviots have breeding species like Ring Ouzel, though others maybe able to give better info for this.

[cookieyum]

cheers for the advice some good points to look into

[SheffieldLass]

Budle Bay is usually full of waders.

High Newton/Low Newton is one of my favourite stretches of coastline. There is the tern colony on Newton Links, and a cabin/viewing area there, manned during the breeding season. Usually plenty of birds along the coast and on the saltmarshes behind the dunes. Just along from Low Newton heading along the path behind the pub towards Dunstanburgh Castle there is a hide overlooking a small lake. Usually plenty of birds there too. Lots of unimproved grassland on the links, and plenty of butterflies when I've been there in the summer.

Inland I like Harthope Valley near Wooler. Also some interesting bogs, such as Ford Moss, near Ford, and cup and ring marks on the stones in that area.

Some of the roads that cross the ridge that runs between the Cheviots and coast are very scenic, such as between Wooler and Belford, Wooler through Chatton, or Chillingham to North Charlton.

To be honest you can't really go far wrong wherever you go in the area north of Alnwick up to Berwick. And St Abbs a bit further north is also good for birds. If it's raining over the Cheviots it may be sunny over the coast. If there is a sea fret over the coast you might be ok in the Cheviots.

[ChrisJB]

If you want ring ouzels in the Cheviots, try Hen Hole in the northern section, but its a bit of a trek. Long Nanny is a good spot for little terns too, in Beadnell Bay. I think the National Trust have a view point there. There are the 'wild' Chillingham Cattle to go and see as well. They're tremendous!
As Sheffield Lass has already suggested, the Harthope Valley is great, especially in it's highest reaches. The moors up there hold merlin.

Chris

[Brocakat]

I seem to remember a wide open valley by the name of 'Happy Valley' in the Cheviot Hills as being particularly beautiful. The place where I first found Wild Thyme.

If someone could give me both a 6 & 10 figure Grid Ref. of this area, as I'd like to visit agains this year.

[Harry Eales]

Hello Brocakat,

Happy Valley, Northumberland is at NT9924 O/S Landranger map No.75.

It is to the west of the A697 Morpeth to Wooler to Coldstream Road 4 Km south of Wooler. The Harthope Burn runs through the valley. This and the Langleeford Valley to the west of Wooler are both rich in many wildlife forms and well worth a visit by anyone interested in natural history. The scenery alone in the area is well worth a visit, if your going into the wilds of Northumberland take packed food with you. Apart from the odd country 'pub' and the very occasional village shop there is little in food available.

Weather in the Cheviots can suddenly change and it always pays to be prepared for the worst, the precipitation here can make make Manchester appear like a desert. Be prepared. Mobile phones do not always work in this area unless your up on high ground, in the valleys it's very hit or miss.

At weekends the roads may be quite crowded with vehicles and walkers all sightseeing, but during the week it is very quiet indeed and you can feel quite alone with no-one around for miles.

Enjoy your visit if you come again.

Harry

[Brocakat]

That's very kind of you Harry - and I hope others reading this manage to get up there at some stage.

I beleive this was the very first National Park of all to open, but due to its location hasn't had the greatest amounts of publicity spent upon it in the way e.g. the Lake District has had . Sure the scenery isn't as dramatic as the aformentioned, but it certainly doesn't deserve to be the 'poor cousin' as it seems to be.