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Kershope Forest

11.2 miles (18 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk explores the expansive Kershope Forest in Cumbria. The route runs for just over 11 miles with some climbs to the fells within the forest.
The forest is located in a remote spot near Kershopefoot on the Scotland/England border. The walk starts from the forestry comission parking area near Cuddyshall Bridge where there's also a picnic area. From here you can pick up trails heading east towards the Black Lyne river which runs through the forest. You continue east to the Bewcastle Fells where you can follow a path north east up to Christianbury Crags. This interesting set of crags consists of small tors of hard sandstone. There are fine views over the area from this elevated position.
You then retrace your steps before turning south to Ellery Grain, Shie Knowe and the remains of a Bastle at The Flatt. Here you can pick up some pleasant country lanes and follow them east to Crosshill and Holmhead where you cross the Black Lyne and pass a waterfall. The country lanes then bend round to the north and return you to the car park.

Postcode

TD9 0TP - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locations

Kershope Forest OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Kershope Forest Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Dog Walking

The miles of woodland trails are ideal for a peaceful walk with your dog.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Head a few miles north east and you can visit the splendid Kielder Forest and enjoy a walk around the impressive Kielder Reservoir.
Head west and you could pick up the Newcastleton Railway Walk which includes views of Liddel Water and a visit to the historic ruins of Mangerton Tower.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cheviots Walks page.

Photos

Clear fell in Kershope Forest - geograph.org.uk - 683452

Clear fell in Kershope Forest. On the slope of Arthur Seat.

Kershope Forest - geograph.org.uk - 1546481

This unmapped track and the log-piles lie in an area of recently felled forest on the eastern flank of the valley of the Black Lyne. Looking across to the other side of the valley, amid further clear-fell, you can see a patch of hillside that seems to have never been forested - the area studded with odd trees - which is shown as such on the 1:25000 map.

Kershope Forest - geograph.org.uk - 663066

Large clearing in Kershope Forest near Kettle Sike.

Black Lyne - geograph.org.uk - 662987

View looking down the Black Lyne in Kershope Forest seen from Blacklyne House.

Fence Stile at Ellery Grain - geograph.org.uk - 810913

Fence Stile at Ellery Grain

Cuddys hall picnic area - geograph.org.uk - 992161

Cuddys hall picnic area near the start of the route

View from Ellery grain - geograph.org.uk - 810920

View from Ellery grain

Ford at Holmehead (geograph 4388172)

Ford at Holmehead

GPS Files

GPX File

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

Memory Map Route

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