Red kite trail

Red Kite Trail 7 miles

September 6^th 2012

We are eventually back walking after a frustrating break. My walking companion developed “Olympic leg”! It is not caused by sitting channel surfing over a period of 19 days as many people assume but a tear in the calf muscle during activity.  You suddenly see the athlete pulling up quick and hop, a scene often seen during Olympic fortnight hence the name. The injury occurred less than half a mile into our last planned walk going uphill over a cobbled surface.

After a suitable period of rest our plan today was 5 miles of the 11 mile Red Kite Trail to test the leg out.

Red kites are magnificent birds of prey with a wing span of just under 2 metres, colourful plumage and distinctive forked tail. They were successfully reintroduced to this area of north east of England in 2004-6 after an absence of 170 years.

The trail is a circular route staring and finishing at Derwenthaugh Park car park.

Leaving the car park we turned left onto a well surfaced path accessible to wheel chairs and pushchairs very popular today with walkers, joggers and cyclists (beware they quickly and silently appear).

The path follows the Derwent River on our left and rolling pastures on our right, where hay was being gathered, and headed towards a wetland area and man made lake were we spotted a patient heron.

The path continued over the fast flowing river and across the Nine Arches Viaduct, a remnant of the once dominant mining industry, from here we had wonderful views of the Gibside Estate with its impressive Column of Liberty.

Continuing on through one of the several woodlands we were covered with a canopy of green broken only be the stunning red berries of the rowan trees.

Very soon we left the park and exited onto the main road through Rowlands Gill passed the caravan site and joined Derwent Walk railway path for about a mile before turning right onto our trail. The steep sloping path here was narrower and unsuitable for buggies or wheelchairs, sections had been eroded by the recent heavy rain (a good work out for “Olympic leg”). 

There were seats along the route with spectacular views over the Derwent Valley were red kites had been regularly seen but today they were unfortunately allusive together with kingfishers, dippers and otters which according to the interpretation panel also frequent the area.

The path descended to Lintzford onto the A694 where we had originally decided to stop after 4 miles and catch a bus back to the car but as it was still early, the sun was shining and we still had a spring in our step we continued on.

Crossing the road and through the gate we rougher surfaces and some stiles to negotiate bordering fields before entering Chopwell Woods and its steep slopes.

At this point the only kite we had seen was on an impressive wooded sculpture but the day was not over.

Following the kite way markers we left Chopwell woods at Victoria Garesfield to find a bus stop and walking along the road my sharp eyed observant companion spotted a solitary kite soaring high on a thermal. It did not stay in our field of vision very long but it made a great ending for our walk and we did not have long to wait before the bus arrived taking us back to our car.