Duchess Trail

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About Duchess Trail

The second Duchess of Northumberland loved to take her pony and trap over the old pack horse bridge to the quieter, more picturesque parts of the estate. Follow one of her favourite routes - still a magical experience 200 years later. The trail follows the course of Kielder Burn upstream past the site of the Castle's walled garden, now the location of the enchanting Minotaur Maze.

The Duchess Trail is on both surfaced and unsurfaced forest paths. Before the old packhorse bridge (narrow ‘humpback’ bridge), the trail passes through two ‘kissing’ gates. After the bridge are moderate inclines as well as two sets of steps (with handrail) to take visitors to the top of Jamie’s Crags viewpoint.

How to get there:

Duchess Trail can be started from Kielder Castle Forest Park Centre in Kielder which is part of Kielder. Kielder Village near Bellingham is the nearest town or village.

Kielder Castle is situated at the northern end of Kielder Water, off the C200.

OS Grid Reference: NY632934
For details of public transport visit http://www.transportdirect.info

Wildlife

Mammals: Plenty of wildlife throughout the year. Red Squirrels are frequently spotted as are Deer and Badger and Otter in the evenings. We have information about Red squirrel, Roe deer and Badger

Insects and reptiles: The forest is alive with insects in the summer months. Perfect for those into mini beast activities. Lizards and Adders can sometimes be seen basking in the sunshine.

What's on in Kielder

June

Introduction to Nordic Pole Walking
Sunday 5 February 2012
Sunday 4 March 2012
Sunday 1 April 2012
Monday 9 April 2012
Sunday 15 April 2012
Sunday 13 May 2012
Sunday 10 June 2012
Sunday 1 July 2012
Nordic Walk
Sunday 12 February 2012
Sunday 18 March 2012
Monday 2 April 2012
Tuesday 10 April 2012
Sunday 20 May 2012
Sunday 17 June 2012
Sunday 8 July 2012
Jubilee Beacon
Monday 4 June 2012
Bat Night
Saturday 9 June 2012

July

Introduction to Nordic Pole Walking
Sunday 5 February 2012
Sunday 4 March 2012
Sunday 1 April 2012
Monday 9 April 2012
Sunday 15 April 2012
Sunday 13 May 2012
Sunday 10 June 2012
Sunday 1 July 2012
Nordic Walk
Sunday 12 February 2012
Sunday 18 March 2012
Monday 2 April 2012
Tuesday 10 April 2012
Sunday 20 May 2012
Sunday 17 June 2012
Sunday 8 July 2012
4 x 4 Safari
Saturday 31 March 2012
Saturday 21 April 2012
Saturday 26 May 2012
Sunday 8 July 2012
Saturday 29 September 2012
Saturday 10 November 2012
Saturday 15 December 2012
Sunday 30 September 2012
Working Forest Visit
Tuesday 24 July 2012
Tuesday 31 July 2012
Tuesday 7 August 2012
Tuesday 14 August 2012
Tuesday 21 August 2012
Tuesday 28 August 2012
Tuesday 30 October 2012