Falstonedonkleywood

About trip

A delightful walk taking in hill views and the tranquillity of the River North Tyne valley.

Falstone Old School Tea Rooms are housed in the old Victorian schoolhouse. Pupils rode into school from the outlying farms and left their ponies in the school stables - now the kitchen! Northumberland National Park Authority worked with the local community to renovate the building in 2004, incorporating many innovative renewable energy features.

Food is available at the Old School Tea Room and The Blackcock Inn at Falstone as well as The Pheasant Inn at nearby Stannersburn.

The tiny village of Falstone lies at the foot of the Kielder Dam, the largest man-made reservoir in Europe. Like many settlements in the North Tyne valley, Falstone may have developed from a shieling. Many farmers lived in Bastles, or fortified farm houses, as defence against fellow Border Reivers.The Border Reivers were lawless local families who robbed each other and their peaceful neighbours during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Local facilities

Falstone Old School Tea Rooms are housed in the old Victorian schoolhouse. Pupils rode into school from the outlying farms and left their ponies in the school stables - now the kitchen! Northumberland National Park Authority worked with the local community to renovate the building in 2004, incorporating many innovative renewable energy features.

Food is available at the Old School Tea Room and The Blackcock Inn at Falstone as well as The Pheasant Inn at nearby Stannersburn.

Wildlife

Birds to look out for down by the river include heron, dipper and wagtail. On the moorland you may see curlew and skylark, and buzzard circling overhead.

Red squirrel live in both native broadleaved woods and the planted conifer blocks. Look out for nibbled fir cones, a sign of their presence.