Red Kite Trail - Gateshead Council

During the 1800’s and 1900’s red kites
disappeared from much of the UK
due to human persecution. In 2004
the Northern Kites Project began to
return the kites to North East England,
after an absence of over 170 years.
This partnership project released 94
kites in Gateshead’s lower Derwent
Valley between 2004 and 2006. It was
in the last year of releases that kites
began to breed once again in the
region.
Kite photographs courtesy of Ray Wilby (front), Ian Forrest (inside), Gerry Whitlow (map)
An 18 kilometre (11 mile) circular walking route
through the beautiful countryside of the lower
Derwent Valley in Gateshead and County Durham,
where there are many opportunities to see
magnificent red kites and a variety of other wildlife.
Kites Return to the Region
Red kites are magnificent birds of prey. They are easy to
spot with their wingspan of just under two metres, colourful
plumage and distinctive forked tails. Kites mainly feed on
carrion but will also take some live prey, such as worms and
beetles. Their incredible agility in flight makes them a pleasure
to watch.
Red Kites
Local Tourist Information: Gateshead Tourist Information (0191) 478 4222
Gateshead Council Rights of Way Officer (0191) 433 3141,
Gateshead Countryside Team (01207) 545 212 (for Derwent Walk Country Park and Derwenthaugh Park)
Durham Co Council Rights of Way (0191) 383 3239 & Durham Co Council Countryside Rangers (0191) 383 3594 (for Derwent Walk Railway Path)
Red Kite Trail Contacts
By bike… The Red Kite Trail through the Derwent Walk Country
Park is part of Sustrans’ C2C long distance cycle route. This
connects with Keelman’s Way, Consett and Sunderland Railway
Path, Derwent Walk Railway Path, Waskerley Way Railway Path
and Lanchester Valley Railway Path.
By public transport… Catch Go North East’s ‘Red Kite’ bus
(services 45,46,46a) from Newcastle’s Eldon Square Interchange,
Central Station (for mainline rail connections) or from the
MetroCentre Interchange (nearest local train station). For bus
information visit www.simplygo.com or telephone Traveline
0870 6082608. For train information visit www.nationalrail.
co.uk or telephone 08457 484950.
The Red Kite Trail
Directions to the Red Kite Trail
The lower Derwent Valley has a beautiful mixture of mature
woodlands,wetlands and open countryside through which the
Red Kite Trail meanders. The Trail, at just over 18 km (11 miles),
can be walked over two days and guides visitors through this
ideal kite country. It provides many opportunities to see red
kites and a variety of other wildlife, as well as passing areas of
important historical and heritage interest.
The Red Kite Trail starts at Derwenthaugh Park car park at
Winlaton Mill
By road… Take the A694 from the A1 just west of MetroCentre on
the outskirts of Gateshead.
Red KiteTrail
The Red Kite Trail - a basic guide
Local History and Heritage
The Red Kite Trail is a circular route starting and finishing at
Derwenthaugh Park car park at Winlaton Mill on the A694
(OS grid ref: NZ186609). It is identified by Red Kite Trail waymarkers (in both directions) and can be walked either in two
stages over two days or as a longer walk in one day.
Much of the lower Derwent Valley has historically been
dominated by the mining industry, which was supported by
the construction of the Derwent Valley Railway (1867 to 1962).
The railway crossed the River Derwent on the magnificent Nine
Arches Viaduct, which is now a central feature of the Derwent
Walk Country Park.
One of the valley’s other defining features is the 40 metre tall
Column of Liberty in the Gibside Estate. This was the ancestral
home of the Bowes Lyons family built by George Bowes in
1750. The National Trust now manages the Estate.
Stage One - Winlaton Mill to Lintzford, via
Rowlands Gill
For the first 7.5 km (4 miles), the Trail follows the River Derwent
upstream through Derwenthaugh Park and the Derwent
Walk Country Park. The majority of this stage follows multiuser routes on well-surfaced paths, accessible to wheelchairs
and pushchairs. Here the Trail passes the 2006 nesting site of
the first pair of kites to breed in North East England after their
return to the region.
The Trail continues through Rowlands Gill village where
walkers can access the National Trust’s Gibside Estate.
At Rowlands Gill walkers can catch the Red Kite bus to return
to the start of the Trail. This may be useful for wheelchair and
pushchair users who would find it difficult to access the next
bus stop on the Trail and Lintzford due to steep slopes. From
Rowlands Gill the Red Kite Trail then joins the Derwent Walk
Railway Path before connecting to a footpath to Lintzford.
Here walkers can catch the Red Kite bus to return to Winlaton
Mill.
Stage Two - Lintzford to Winlaton Mill, via
Barlow
The second stage of the Trail, a 10.5 km (7 mile) stretch,
continues on a network of rights of way where rougher
surfaces, stiles and steep slopes are common. The Trail heads
from Lintzford through Chopwell Woodland Park and on to
Spen Banks Wood, which is often used as a winter roost by the
kites. The Trail then loops north to Barlow village, one of the
best places to see kites.
From Barlow the Trail continues on public footpaths back
to the A694 where it crosses into woodland. It passes the
Thornley Woodlands Centre before rejoining Derwenthaugh
Park where way-markers guide walkers back to the start of the
Trail at the car park.
A detailed Trail guide is available as a download from www.northernkites.org.uk/redkitetrail
Local Wildlife
Red kites can be seen throughout the lower Derwent Valley
along with many other beautiful and sometimes rare wildlife.
Walking by the River Derwent provides opportunities to see
kingfisher, heron, dipper and sometimes the elusive otter.
The Trail passes through several woodlands that are full of
spring flowers such as bluebells and wood anemone, and
numerous fungi in the autumn. Bird life is also abundant with
regular sightings of great spotted woodpecker and nuthatch.
Many butterflies can also be seen in the summer, such as
common blue, large skipper and meadow brown.
Visitor Information
The Red Kite Trail travels along many rights of way that allow
access to different users.
These include:
Footpath - Pedestrians only. Cycles and horse riders are not
allowed. No motor vehicles.
Bridleway - Pedestrians, horses and cycles only. No motor
vehicles.
Permissive - Access is granted and specified by the landowner.
No motor vehicles.
While following the Trail please obey the Countryside Code:
•Show consideration and respect for other users of the
countryside
•Keep dogs under close control at all times and take
particular care near livestock. Scoop the poop, bag it and
bin it.
•Leave gates and property as you find them or follow
instructions on the sign
•Follow paths and use gates, stiles or gaps in field boundaries
when provided
•Cyclists slow down and give way to walkers and horse riders
•Horse riders give way to walkers
•Protect plants and animals and take your litter home.
A range of visitor facilities such as toilets, pubs and
information centres are located along the Red Kite
Trail. These are highlighted on the Trail map overleaf.
For local accommodation please contact Gateshead Tourist
Information on (0191) 478 4222.Red Kite merchandise including
Trail T-shirts are available at the ‘Red Kite Shop’ in Winlaton Mill
and ‘Something with a Difference’ in Rowlands Gill.
Red Kite Trail
Pa
rk
To Swalwell
tW
a
4
9
A6
Key
Black Horse (PH)
i
low
Bar
Barlo
w
Fel
l
Road
Managed by Gateshead Council.
Open throughout the year with free access
& two visitor centres.
Tel: (01207) 545 212 or (0191) 414 2106
Barlow Fell
Thornley Bank
Kennels
Ashtree Lane
Low Thornley
Nine Arches
Viaduct
Derwenthaugh
Park
i
i
Facility Key
Toilets
Red Kite/countryside information
Access for walkers
Access for horses
Access for bikes
Access for wheelchair users
Partial access for wheelchair users
Mobility scooters for hire
Food / Shop / Beverages
en
Derwent Walk Country Park
and Derwenthaugh Park
Barlow
Barlow
ad
Winlaton Mill
Thornley Wood
i
Pa
to
ws
o
nR
try
Red Kite Trail
Start / Finish
a
Ro
d
Red Kite Trail (recommended direction)
Red Kite View Point
Roads
Wooded Area
Built up Area
Parking
Bridge
River Derwent
Bus Stop
Steep Slopes
Busy Road Crossing
County Boundary
Derwent Walk
rw
De
l
n
ou
kC
High Spen
M
ill
La
ne
A 69
Red Kite Shop & Deli
Spen Banks
Red Kite Trail
Start / Finish
Chaplin’s Restaurant at
The Run of the Mill (PH)
A6
94
4
Golden Lion
School
erw
e
nt
Snipes Dene Wood
Winlaton Mill
A6 9 4
(PH)
Thornley Woodlands Centre
Riv
er D
i
B6
315
Highfield
Chopwell Woodland Park
Managed by the Forestry Commission.
Open throughout the year with free access.
Tel: 01388 488 312
Church
Gibside Estate
Victoria Garesfield
Gibside Estate
Managed by the National Trust. Open to the public 10am to
6pm (10am to 4pm November to March). Free access to the
public to tearoom, larder and toilets; charges or membership
applies to access walks, landscape garden & buildings.
Tel: 01207 541 820
Rowlands Gill
Chopwell Wood
a ne
Lintz
for
dL
Lintzford
Friarside
Wood
A694
ay
i
i
ad
Ro
scale 1km
w
ail
Lintzford
D
A6
94
Lintzford Garden Centre
To Shotley Bridge
Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised
reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. OS Licence No. 100019570
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Tea for Two
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Burno
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A6
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Something
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A6 94
Ponthaugh
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A69
A694
A6
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Lintzford
Wood
Rowlands Gill
Derwent
Caravan
Park
Gateshead
National Trust
Gibside Estate
County Durham