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Catcleugh Reservoir

5.90 miles (9.5 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This walk takes you along Catcleugh Reservoir before climbing to Girdle Fell for great views over the Northumberland National Park.
The reservoir is located just off the A68 road near Byrness. There's a nice path leading south off the A68 which you can follow along the water. It's a lovely area with the reservoir surrounded by attractive countryside, heather, grassland and a mixture of native and conifer woodlands. It's also great for wildlife spotting with the higher moorland area a breeding ground for golden plover and dunlin. You may also see birds of prey such as buzzards, ospreys and occasionally a golden eagle.  Other wildlife to look out for includes otter, red squirrel, badger and roe deer.
After passing the southern side of the water the path then climbs past Castle Crag Forest to Girdle Fell. From here there are wonderful views back down to the reservoir.
The reservoir is located in Kielder Forest where you can enjoy miles of great cycling and walking trails. Just a few miles to the south you can visit Kielder Water and try the Kielder Forest Lakeside Way.
The climb to Deadwater Fell is also just a few miles to the west. From here there are more great views to the Lake District and the Scottish Hills.

Postcode

NE19 1TY - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Catcleugh Reservoir OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Catcleugh Reservoir Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head a few miles south east through the adjacent Redesdale Forest and you could visit something of a hidden gem at Hindhope Linn. There's some pretty waterfalls here and more nice waterside trails along the burns that run through the area. The epic Pennine Way can also be picked up at the falls car park here.
Just to the east you can explore the expansive Otterburn Ranges around Byrness. There's miles of walking trails taking you to the source of the River Coquet on the border with Scotland.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Northumberland National Park Walks page.

Photos

Earl Sike - geograph.org.uk - 1308425

Earl Sike

Right of way path on Girdle Fell - geograph.org.uk - 610259

Right of way path on Girdle Fell

Stelling near Chattlehope Burn - geograph.org.uk - 1301627

Stelling near Chattlehope Burn

Catcleugh Reservoir - geograph.org.uk - 291809

Catcleugh Reservoir

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Catcleugh Reservoir.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Catcleugh Reservoir.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)