b

Waskerley

North East England  >  United Kingdom

Waskerley is an area of moorland which is mainly heather and reservoirs. It is part of the North Pennines area of Outstanding Beauty.

Added* by Rob Bishop
Most recent update 12 April 2020
This birdingplace has not been rated yet. Click here to be the first to rate this area with 1 to 5 stars

Description

The area is an area of heather moorland with several reservoirs. Waskerley Way Railway Path (Walking and Cycling Route) gives excellent access along a disused railway. It changes seasonally and is very exposed and sometimes closed during winter snow storms. The moorlands of the North Pennines support a wide variety of birds such as the abundant Red Grouse, 80% of England's Black Grouse and nationally important populations of European Golden Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Short-eared Owl and Merlin. Other breeding birds using the moors include Dunlin, Common Redshank, Eurasian Oystercatcher and Meadow Pipit.

Details

Access

No bus service along this route. Access is by car, bike or walking. Directions are to Park Head From Stanhope follow B6278 Edmundbyers. Follow road for 2. 5 miles, turn right at sign for Parkhead, follow track for 200m. Railway Path is accessible from the left of car park. Hawkburn Head From A68 at Castleside, head towards Stanhope. Follow road for 6 miles. Site entrance is on the left. Sign posted Waskerley Station From A68 at Castleside, head towards Stanhope. Follow road for 5 miles . Site entrance is on the left. Signposted. Walk along railway path has several car parks on route.

Terrain and Habitat

Lake , Moors/heathland

Conditions

Mountainous , Open landscape , Hilly

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Can be useful

Good birding season

Spring , Autumn , Summer

Best time to visit

Spring , Autumn , Summer

Route

Wide path , Narrow trail , Paved road

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Extra info

This area is set in heather moorland which is at its most stunning when the purple flowers carpet the ground between August and September. Wonderful views of Waskerley and Smiddy Shaw Reservoir which are visited by large numbers of wading birds. These include Eurasian Curlew, Common Sandpiper and European Golden Plover. On the heather moorland you can often see Merlin, Red Kite, Eurasian Kestrel, Willow Ptarmigan and Black Grouse. Osprey can sometimes be spotted in spring.

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

Show more birds Show less birds
Show more images Show less images

Comments & Tips

Click on the little bird icon () to insert bird names in your own language. The birdnames will automatically be translated for other users!