Reaveley Farm

(S/E) From the visitor centre, take the Woodland Walk through the trees to the wicket gate at Ingram Bridge Car Park. Once through the gate turn right, crossing over the bridge. Continue down the valley road for approx 1 mile.

The tree at the entrance to the Woodland Walk is a Walnut Tree, its leaves when crushed smell of eucalyptus. Many of the bird boxes throughout the woodland have metal plates fitted to prevent woodpeckers enlarging the holes to steal the chicks. The yellow flowering bush is called gorse, it flowers all year round and in full bloom smells of coconut - “when gorse is out of bloom, kissing is out of season”.

(1) Cross the bridge, at the road junction turn left, following the sign to Reaveley.

(2) Follow the tarmac road as it bears left, and continue on passing Reaveley Cottage on the right. Carry on along this road, passing Reaveley Farm.

The mature trees along the roadside are predominantly ash. They naturally lose limbs leading to large holes in the trunk which provide ideal nesting sites for numerous birds, for example, Barn Owls and Jackdaws.

(3) Immediately beyond the farm buildings, turn left at the road junction, heading back towards the River Breamish.

This area is ideal for barn owls, the open ground is rich in voles and mice which forms the majority of their diet, therefore don’t just dismiss a white bird as a gull as barn owls have been seen hunting during the day.

(4) Turn right at the junction & re-trace your steps back to the visitor centre (S/E).