Reservoirs and Borders Walk One: Byrness, Pennine Way, Fortlet, Source of the River Coquet
3 people attending
12 places left
First of two walks starting in North Northumberland.
This walk starts in the village of Byrness and heads out to the Pennine Way and Byrness Hill, passing Ogre Hill. The route then quietly slips into Scotland and turns down a valley, which hides the source of the River Coquet. It's then back into England and on to the Roman fortlet where we'll stop for lunch. After lunch, it'll either be back the way we came or we'll head on to Dere Street, Outer Golden Pot and Middle Golden Pot. The second part of the route is determined by the military firing times. If it's a day for soldiers, we'll be sticking to the Pennine Way there and back as thats always open.
This walk has some breathtaking views no matter which direction you look.
At the end of the walk there's the option of popping in to the Redesdale Arms just up the road for some pub grub.
If you're looking to make a weekend of it, there are a number of places you can stay in the area. I'll be staying at the Kielder Campsite on the Friday and Saturday nights. You can book online here: http://kieldercampsite.co.uk/. This is an excellent place for stargazing as it's situated in a Dark Skies park, with Kielder observatory not too far away.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking.
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: Proper walking trousers. Breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch
Food & drink
Bring a packed lunch, plenty of snacks and water. There are no shops in Byrness or on the route.
There is a shop in Otterburn, which is on the A696.