North Pennine Birdwalks Walk 6: Derwent Gorge The Birdwatchers Code of Conduct

Birds are very vulnerable to disturbance, especially during the breeding season. It is all too easy to inadvertently harm a bird or its young while trying to watch them. For example, if an adult bird is prevented from returning to its nest, eggs or chicks may quickly chill and die. Straying from a footpath towards a nest site may also leave a scent trail that a predator is later able to follow. To ensure that you enjoy watching birds without harming them or their young, please always follow this code of conduct: • The welfare of the birds must come first. Disturbance to birds and their habitats should be kept to a minimum. • Keep to footpaths, especially during the bird breeding season (March – August). • Avoid disturbing birds or keeping them away from their nests for even short periods especially in wet or cold weather. • Do not try to find nests. All birds, nests, eggs and young are protected by law and it is illegal to harm them. • Keep dogs on a short lead. • Leave gates and property as you find them. • Take your litter home with you.

Snipe

2 Birdwatching in the North Pennines GRADE - MEDIUM Walk 6 Derwent Gorge

Derwent Gorge

The upland oak woodland of the Derwent Gorge is a dramatic relic of the once extensive forests of the North Pennines. Now a National Nature Reserve managed by Natural England, this woodland contains many interesting and unusual plants such as sweet woodruff, enchanters’ nightshade and wood bitter-cress as well as a great range of resident and migratory birds. Views across the woodland canopy from the gorge sides are impressive and are excellent for birdwatching. The walk begins on the edge of the wood in an area of arable farmland, offering opportunities for you to see both farmland and woodland birds.

3 Birdwatching in the North Pennines Keys

Easy Grade Walk Suitable for most people: easy, comfortable walking, may be some stiles.

Medium Grade Walk Typically a country walk with some hills, stiles and muddy paths. Boots advised.

Hard Grade Walk Hill walk. May have steep or strenuous climbs. Rough moorland. Boots essential.

A guide is also provided to indicate the best times of year to see key bird species. This can be interpreted as follows: BEST TIME TO VISIT Additional notes JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC are made here where relevant

Blue shading Orange shading Green shading indicates indicates good indicates good months good months to see birds on months to see to see breeding birds autumn or winter migration wintering birds

Please be aware that the weather can change rapidly in the North Pennines. Always carry suitable wet weather clothing with you and remember that visibility will be poor at higher altitudes in low cloud conditions.

© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Durham Front cover illustration and all bird illustrations are County Council. LA100049055. 2012. by Mike Langman. Other images are © Natural England/ Charlie Hedley or © North Pennines AONB Partnership.

Information is correct at the time of production (Aug 2012). Every effort has been made to ensure that informa- tion is accurate. However, the AONB Partnership and its Staff Unit cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. Please check critical information before travel. Inclusion is not a recommendation by the AONB Partnership and in itself is not necessarily a guarantee of quality.

North Pennines AONB Partnership, Weardale Business Centre, The Old Co-op Building, 1 Martin Street, Stan- hope, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL13 2UY.

4 Birdwatching in the North Pennines Information Point

1:50,000 – Landranger 87 Pub and local shop at 1:25,000 – Explorer 307 Edmundbyers (6 km)

Linear route At Muggleswick (NZ042498) 2 km (1.2 miles) each way Visit www.northpennines.org.uk Medium. Path steep in places for information on green places and may be muddy to stay

Limited parking on grassy triangle at junction of the minor P roads leading to Crooked Oak and Wallish Walls (NZ057501)

Redstart (female)

5 Birdwatching in the North Pennines Walk Directions

When parking, please take care to leave sufficient room for large farm machinery to pass. Walk down the road towards Crooked Oak past the row of cottages on the right and through the gate beyond the farm. Follow the well-defined track with arable fields on the left and grassland on the right. The track descends into the woodland and continues to buildings at Lead Mill. From here, follow the footpath around the house and walled garden, keeping them on your right, to a footbridge over the River Derwent. The path ascends steeply up through the wood to meet a track. Turn left and follow the track to a minor road. Cross the road (take care!) and re-enter the wood, descending once more to a footbridge across a small tributary of the River Derwent. Follow the footpath up through the wood again, keeping to the right when the path forks. After 500m the path reaches a minor road. Turn round here and return.

Upland oak woodland, Derwent Gorge

6 Birdwatching in the North Pennines Walk 6 Derwent Gorge

A68

To Darlington

Wallish Walls Crooked P Oak 1 Wren River Derwent 2

3 Lead Mill

1 Yellowhammer, linnet, skylark and whitethroat can be seen in and around these fields.

2 Throughout the year wrens can be seen 4 foraging amongst tangled vegetation and piles of stones, living up to their Latin name Troglodytes.

3 Listen for the songs of redstart, wood warbler, blackcap, willow warbler, chiff chaff and garden warbler during spring and summer. In spring the woodland floor is carpeted by 4 bluebells and the air heavy with the smell of wild garlic.

BEST TIME TO VISIT JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

7 8 Birdwatching in the North Pennines

Map of the North Pennines AONB showing location of Walks and Sites

3

2 1

4 S1 S2 5 6 9 7 10 8

13

S3 12 11

14

1 Lambley and the South Tyne 10 Garrigill

2 Tindale Tarn 11 Dufton Pike 3 Allen Banks and Staward Gorge 12 Upper Teesdale 4 Chimneys on Dryburn Moor 13 Howdon Burn 5 Blanchland 14 Blackton Reservoir 6 Derwent Gorge S1 Derwent Reservoir 7 Burnhope Head

8 Cowshill S2 Ouston Fell

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The AONB Partnership has a Green Tourism award for its corporate office

This pdf download has been funded by: This publication has been funded by: This publication has been funded by:

This publication has been funded by: 02/11/24K 02/11/24K 02/11/24K …as part of their support for the North Pennines AONB Partnership 08/2012