GPS helps visitors to Redesdale’s Nature-Watch Holiday Cottages in Northumberland to adventure further into the remote countryside for wildlife watching

One of the joys of walking in Northumberland’s spectacular uplands is knowing that you’re unlikely to see another soul. This is especially true of two newly-established walks – one in Northumberland National Park, the other on Whitelee Moor National Nature Reserve. The walks have been commissioned by the owners of Whitelee Farm exclusively for visitors to their three self-catering holiday cottages.

Whitelee Farm.

John and Jill Wilson have found that increasing numbers of their visitors enjoy walking. “The farm is situated in wonderful walking country in Northumberland National Park and right on the edge of the Whitelee Moor National Nature Reserve,” said John; “but there are no formal footpaths and, in spite of open access, people are reluctant just to head off across the hills. We wanted people to be able to walk directly from their cottage, rather than have to drive to a walk.” The couple called on the help of another successful local business, Shepherds Walks, to create the two walks. Jon Monks, the shepherd in Shepherds Walks, has established and published many new walks in Northumberland and the Borders as well as running guided walks.

One of the walks combines two fast-growing trends, geo-trailing using a GPS and geo-caching. For this 3.5 mile walk the Wilsons give people a GPS on which the route has been plotted. There are 4 hidden caches for walkers to find, each with a question about Northumberland which they have to answer.

“It’s a bit of fun,” says John Wilson. “At the end of the year we’ll put all the correct answers into a prize draw and someone will win a free short break in one of our cottages.