– The Sill Trail –

A gentle introduction to the Reiver Trails, and one of the shortest at just over six miles, this circular walk starts at The Sill and heads south before turning onto the byway leading to Cranberry Brow. The undulating land here is stitched together by dry stone walls and narrow tracks that guide you through a patchwork of fields, and although sometimes muddy, this ancient, off-road section offers fabulous views of the South Tyne Valley.

The terrain then begins to shift almost imperceptibly as the fields widen and the route starts to climb. It’s not an abrupt ascent, but a gradual pulling upwards, drawing you closer to the dramatic backbone of Hadrian’s Wall where the trail crosses the famous Wall at Turret 41a and continues its climb up to Windshield Crags before returning via the wilder, northern side of the Wall. The route does mean crossing the busy B6318, but do stop off at Steel Rigg on your way back down to enjoy close-up views of this section of the Wall itself, and the dramatic, dark waters of Crag Lough, before looping back down to enjoy a well deserved cuppa and some cake at The Sill, or a cold pint at Twice Brewed Inn.

– The Bull Crag Trail –

A family-friendly trail of just over six miles, this is one of the quieter, lesser-known routes in the Reiver Trails network—but that is precisely where its appeal lies. Tucked deep within the vast expanse of Wark Forest, this circular route has views of Kielder Reservoir along its entire length.

Leave Kielder Waterside via the Lakeside Way (near the playground) following the forestry tracks, and head in the direction of the dam, but do stop off at the squirrel hide to see if you can spot one of the elusive native reds that call Kielder home.

Head to Bull Crag Peninsula passing Freya’s Cabin, part of the area’s art and architecture programme. Along with Robin’s Hut (which is directly opposite on the reservoir’s north shore) it tells the tale of Freya and Robin, two characters who live by the lake and their efforts to meet up.

Continue along the peninsula and enjoy sweeping views from Otterstone Lee, the former site of one of England’s largest sheep farms, and pass a series of brass rubbing locations which form part of the Kielder Keepsake interactive artwork.

Towards the end of Bull Crag, the path heads around the southern side of the peninsula and briefly passes through a parking area where the Lakeside Way descends into the valley, but by continuing straight on (and following the signs) you will end up back at Freya’s Cabin and Kielder Waterside.

– The Cross Border Trail –

The original Reiver Trail, this route links Kielder Forest to Newcastleton Forest and England to Scotland, crossing the border at the Bloodybush Toll, and covers a total of 29 miles.

You can start this trail either side of the border, at Kielder Castle or across in Newcastleton village, and it is well way-marked. The easier way to navigate this trail is anti-clockwise, but expect some parts to be very remote with limited phone reception – although the wilderness and the views more than make up for the challenges of being off grid. The trail on both sides of the border is mainly forest road, and although you can expect to see forestry operations and logging lorries, for some parts this route is rarely used which means the forest roads are more overgrown, and you have the opportunity to really feel at one with nature.

The route eases you in gently, beginning along the familiar sweep of the Lakeside Way, where the scale of Kielder Water opens out beside you. But as the trail pulls away from the water and begins to climb, the forest thickens, the tracks widen and the sense of peaceful isolation begins.

Following the line of the border itself, marked by the Kershope Burn, you reach one of the trail’s most memorable sections: a hidden, idyllic valley where England and Scotland meet. In summer, this stretch comes alive with colour with wild orchards and butterflies, even dragon flies may make an appearance.

Up on Bloody Bush, you’ll pass the toll marker, a historic 15-foot stone obelisk marking a toll gate on a private coal road used by cattle and sheep drivers crossing between the two countries. In the colder months, the landscape up here can be harsh so be prepared to be exposed on this part of the route and always ensure you have informed close points of contacts on your planned route and times of arrival at destinations.

The return leg back towards Kielder includes longer climbs and faster descents, and the forest begins to feel less enclosing and more expansive again as you drop back towards the reservoir.

– The Wark Forest Trail –

A longer trail of just over 24 miles, Wark Forest Trail connects The Sill to the village of Stonehaugh, heading past Steel Rigg, along quiet country lanes and into the forest at Scotchcoulthard before completing a loop that includes a hidden valley and returning along the National Cycle route.

It’s a varied and immersive journey through some of the region’s most distinctive landscapes – linking the sharp escarpments of Hadrian’s Wall with the quiet depths of Wark Forest – but the trail is probably best accessed from Stonehaugh as this allows fresh legs to tackle early climbs, with a lovely descent through the hidden valley back to the start.

Starting from Stonehaugh, follow the way-markers from the picnic site and along quiet roads onto the gravel track that undulates through the dense conifer forest before descending gently to a small bridge. The track then climbs to Scotchcoulthard, north of the Wall and on the edge of the forest, where you switch onto tarmac to head across to the Sill. Look out west and on a clear day the sweeping views will take in the Solway Firth, Cross Fell and the northern edge of the Lake District.

Looping back, your return journey uses the same quiet roads to bring you back into the forest where you’ll pass the old repeater mast at Hopealone before climbing gently up past Hindleysteel and through the hidden valley screened by trees, before descending gently to the quiet roads back to Stonehaugh.