Otterburn Ranges

The Otterburn Ranges are one of England's most remote upland areas and offer you the chance to enjoy miles of tranquil walks and rides while taking in some of Northumberland National Park's most breathtaking scenery.

The awe-inspiring landscape is rich in history, folklore and wildlife, including herons, dippers, owls, buzzards and even wild goats.

Parts of the ranges are used for military training, providing a realistic environment for more than 30,000 NATO troops every year.

That means you must be careful when you do visit, and pay particular attention to the signs and flags that identify when and where training is taking place.

However, it is the shared aim of the Ministry of Defence and the Northumberland National Park to encourage as much access to the ranges as possible.

There is an open access area covering the Upper Coquet Valley and hills up the north to the border ridge and part of the Grasslees Valley up to Darden Lough.

Visitors are free to explore this area on foot, on cycle, or horseback any day of the year.

The Controlled Access Area is the upland area of hills, moors and wooded valleys. When red flags are flying on the perimeter it means you must not enter the zone.

Around the ranges you will find more than twenty interpretation panels explaining the local history and culture of the area. The subjects covered include whiskey smuggling, farming, conservation and the ranges' often violent past. Leaflets available at all National Park Centres have full details of paths and bridleways that can be used by the public.