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Red Kite Trail
Red KitesRed 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. Kites Return to the Region
The Red Kite Trail - a basic guideThe 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. Stage One - Winlaton Mill to Lintzford, via Rowlands GillFor 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.
Stage Two - Lintzford to Winlaton Mill, via BarlowThe 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 to download as a PDF
Local WildlifeRed 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. Local History and Heritage
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. Visitor InformationThe Red Kite Trail travels along many rights of way that allow access to different users. These include:
While following the Trail please obey the Countryside Code:
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. For local accommodation please contact Gateshead Tourist Information on (0191) 478 4222. Directions to the Red Kite TrailThe 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. 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. 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.
Red Kite Trail ContactsRed Kite Trail and Kite Information:
Rights of Way Issues:
Local Tourist Information:
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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.
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.
The Trail continues through Rowlands Gill village where there
is the option to access the National Trust’s Gibside Estate.
Here you can catch the Red Kite bus to return to the start of
the walk, particularly for wheelchair and pushchair users who
would not be able to access the bus stops at Lintzford due
to Trail access on 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
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.