Spadeadam & Northumberland - how to find viewing points
Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 3:15 pm
First an admission and an apology: the information posted below is not my information. It is a collection of various posts, or parts of posts, mostly from the old FC, and is sourced from a number of different people. I originally kept the information for my own purposes for a long hoped for visit to Spadeadam. However, I did not keep the names or usernames of the people who originally authored the posts so, if you recognise your input here, my apologies for not being able to give you proper credit. I hope you take this in the spirit that, as you originally willingly shared your knowledge to help others, you will not now mind my passing it on again on the latest version of FC. You may be able to add to or update your advice (and take credit for it), which I am sure would be apreciated by any new visitors to the area.
QUOTES: "
Spadeadam viewing (per posts on FC website)
[1] If aircraft are using the western part of the range then I had some good viewing on a narrow minor road at 54°59'24.05"N 2°39'5.55"W - careful with your parking here though as it is narrow with soft verges and ditches, and as elsewhere the locals quite rightly won't be best pleased if you block the road. This has good views over to Spadeadam's Prior Lancy site, which was the site for engine test stands for the Blue Streak rocket, as well as good views south over to the Pennines. The Tornados (Monsters 1 & 2) did transit straight over this location while I was there.
[2] Directions for Spadeadam viewing - from the B6318, on the north side of the river Irthing at Gisland, take the right turn towards Gisland Spa hotel, continue due north to just past a property called Moscow (about 2.7 kilometers from the B6318 junction).
Take the slightly unobvious right hand turn at NY625688 onto the narrow road heading due NE to Wileysike, Butterburn & Churnsike.
(If you miss the turn and keep heading north, past various signs and cameras, be prepared to come to a stop at the main Spadeadam security gates!! There is however a view of the horizontal body of a Blue Streak rocket inside the base.)
The public road passes through woodland and then as a single track road onto open grassland with a fairly large hardstanding area to park and walk across to one of the larger waterfalls in Northumberland - the valley here is sometimes used by low flying helicopters.
Beyond this at NY643704 is a small compound with a very small parking area opposite - this is sometimes used by FACs and parking may be restricted to any Spadeadam personnel, so best to check first. There is another similar area about 900m further on, which is rarely used, so parking should be okay. Both spots are open to 360° views and are good for photography. Most action is to the north, running mainly right to left, but there can be low level overflights. The road is narrow and regularly used by locals, verges are very soft and care should be taken about where you park.
Beyond this sector has limited parking and turning areas, but can be a good area if helicopters are using the range.
Spotting Sites in Northumberland FC 20 Mar 09:
I drive about the north fairly often and by way of observation note the following areas to explore (some of which you may have already sussed out)
1/ Inbound to Otterburn from the east - I've often seen plenty of activity around Bamburgh southwards, and if you drew a line from Bamburgh to Alwinton, and another line from Alnmouth to Otterburn village, you have an approximation of corridor used to fly into the Otterburn range. Within this corridor there are a few possible high spots to explore around Chatton Moor/Ros castle/Bewick Moor, Simonside, hills NE of Alwinton and Harbottle Hills on the edge of the range.
2/. Inbound to Otterburn and Spadeadam from the south - the Pennine moors in a corridor with its east side being a line between Tow Law to Riding Mill and its west side being a line following the West Allen river valley (and I guess this could be extended right the way across to the Eden valley, but I don't know much about flight routes in that area!). Stanhope Common and Hexhamshire Common can have a fair degree of overflight, with the A68 occasionally being followed by helicopters and hercs. This corridor then leads north into the North Tyne valley which leads up into Otterburn range and westwards into the Spadeadam range. For the latter, a single track road leading form Nunwick/Simonburn up to Stonehaugh follows a ridgeline and low flying aircraft can be seen to the north side of this road above Gofton and Warks Burns. This route leads into the Wiley Sike part of the range to the north side of the Hopealone aerial across Scotchcoultard Waste (great name). The area between Scotchcoulthard waste and Churnside Lodge can be a good place to see helicopters.
3/. As noted above, another corridor into Spadeadam will be via the west Pennines and Eden valley, and I recently had some good viewing of aircraft using the west side of the range overflying the minor road near Allieshaw Rigg near Birdoswald. The poor photo below gives an idea of the height (just a shame that I wasn't better prepared!)
Sorry not to have much specifics, but the chance to see and photograph low flying aircraft in the east seems to be so much a case of good luck rather than planning, especially now-a-days. But if linked to NOTAMs re flights & jamming at Brunton, for example, then perhaps your luck will be
FC Posting 23 Apr 09
The ingress transit corridor into Spadeadam seems to be Duridge Bay - Scots Gap - Bellingham but I may be mistaken with the coordinates!
From FC posting 25 Apr 09
Wiley Sike
Directions for Spadeadam viewing - from the B6318, on the north side of the river Irthing at Gisland, take the right turn towards Gisland Spa hotel, continue due north to just past a property called Moscow (about 2.7 kilometers from the B6318 junction).
Take the slightly unobvious right hand turn at NY625688 onto the narrow road heading due NE to Wileysike, Butterburn & Churnsike.
(If you miss the turn and keep heading north, past various signs and cameras, be prepared to come to a stop at the main Spadeadam security gates!! There is however a view of the horizontal body of a Blue Streak rocket inside the base.)
The public road passes through woodland and then as a single track road onto open grassland with a fairly large hardstanding area on the right to park and walk across to one of the larger waterfalls in Northumberland - the valley here is sometimes used by low flying helicopters.
This road is narrow and regularly used by locals, verges are very soft and care should be taken about where & how you park.
Beyond this at NY643704 is a small compound with a very small parking area opposite - this is sometimes used by FACs and parking may be restricted to any Spadeadam personnel, so best to check first.
For us photographers, if FACs are in-situ, have a chat - they may help the photo opportunities!
There is another similar area about 900m further on, which is rarely used, so parking should be okay.
Both spots are open to 360° views and are good for photography. Most action is to the north, running mainly right to left (or vice versa) with traffic coming in from Hopealone for example, and there can be low level overflights.
A fair bit of the northern part of the range, such as Berry Hill and the 'airfield' is however hidden beyond a ridgeline in the centre of the range to the north of Wiley Sike - most of these areas can only be seen from outside of the range and can be difficult to photograph.
Areas off the road should not generally be walked across and it should be assumed that there can be old ordanance still lying around - you may also interfer with range use or the photo opportunities for others!
Beyond this sector has only limited parking and turning areas, but can be a good area if helicopters are using the range.
The really keen walkers and cyclists may find some good opportunities by using the track from the road just before Churnside Lodge and Bewcastle (approx along the Northing 76 line) - I haven't been up there yet but it could be a good viewing spot near Hazelrigg Crag area for aircraft using the northern sector of the range.
Staying near Spadadam (FC post 12 May 09)
There are numerous B & B establishments within 2to 3 miles of Spade:
• The nearest:- Howard House Farm 2 miles from Wiley Syke B & B only (Cumbrian Miles)
• The next also 2 miles:- Gilsland Spa Hotel owned by the Co-op they do nice inexpensive lunches and dinners.
• This is my favourite:- Bush Nook Guest house 4 miles from Wiley Syke but has commanding views over most of Spadeadam Range, B & B and Dinner not to be missed.
FC posting 8 Mar 10
I think unfortunately some of the previous information posted about good spotting locations disappeared in the 'reorganising' of this site last year.
Wiley Sike at Spadeadam tends to be the place to head for but what's there and when can be rather a good guessing game. If heading there get a good map, don't enter the main MOD area, instead turn right near Moscow NY 62540 68820, stick to the road, don't wander onto the grass (there may not be many signs but they may be rather unhappy to see you in the wrong place), and be considerate of the local users of the single lane track as there aren't many good passing places but there are many good soft verges!
Some of the lead-in locations to the east can be worth taking a risk - a road from Simonburn to Stonehaugh runs parallel to a lead-in valley but again its a single lane road with few passing places, soft verges and some big fast timber lorries hurtling towards you.
If near Otterburn, again a bit of a guessing game, but have a look at http://www.otterburnranges.co.uk/home/map/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.o" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ainingarea - aircraft can tend to access from Rothbury direction and head into range near Harbottle area or come over from the south west / Spadeadam near Kielder. If big guns are about they can be spectacular to watch too. There are some very good leaflets about the range so pcik them up at the TIC in Otterburn Mill.
FC posting 20 Mar 10
However, re Spadeadam (and elsewhere in this region) much will depend on what is happening, luck and sod's law.
Spadeadam should be fine for 400mm if the action is in the Wiley Sike part of the range and is relatively low level. It is the best general location for photography in this area.
You can get to some areas on the fringes of the range that are on the run-in routes and hit lucky on the rare occasions.
If FAC are at Wiley Sike then chances are improved if the lads are chatty and friendly (& vice versa).
And on Thursday you'll generally find a group of stalwarts at Wiley Sike who seem to be part of the scenery(!!), enjoy a chat and have lots of good knowledge about Spade and other areas.
If aircraft are using the northern or western parts of the range then any lens is pretty limited - I have a cheap and cheerful Oly 600mm max zoom and you're still a long way from the nice detail type photos.
NOTAMS for Spade will give a few clues for FAC type ops, but odds and sods will come by on other days - range officers here and at Otterburn could give useful info in the past (but I gather can sometimesbe less helpful now-a-days), but I tend to just go and enjoy the scenery and cross fingers!
Good luck - if nothing else there's some lovely scenery to see, so hope the weather holds good for you too.
I'm not too sure about Otterburn, but check the webpages noted previously for a few clues nearer the time, as well as the MOD exercises/low fly web pages. "
END OF QUOTES
Hope this is helpful to people visiting the area and I haven't upset anyone by copying it here. Moderators - please amend or delete if I've transgressed any rules.
hertsman
QUOTES: "
Spadeadam viewing (per posts on FC website)
[1] If aircraft are using the western part of the range then I had some good viewing on a narrow minor road at 54°59'24.05"N 2°39'5.55"W - careful with your parking here though as it is narrow with soft verges and ditches, and as elsewhere the locals quite rightly won't be best pleased if you block the road. This has good views over to Spadeadam's Prior Lancy site, which was the site for engine test stands for the Blue Streak rocket, as well as good views south over to the Pennines. The Tornados (Monsters 1 & 2) did transit straight over this location while I was there.
[2] Directions for Spadeadam viewing - from the B6318, on the north side of the river Irthing at Gisland, take the right turn towards Gisland Spa hotel, continue due north to just past a property called Moscow (about 2.7 kilometers from the B6318 junction).
Take the slightly unobvious right hand turn at NY625688 onto the narrow road heading due NE to Wileysike, Butterburn & Churnsike.
(If you miss the turn and keep heading north, past various signs and cameras, be prepared to come to a stop at the main Spadeadam security gates!! There is however a view of the horizontal body of a Blue Streak rocket inside the base.)
The public road passes through woodland and then as a single track road onto open grassland with a fairly large hardstanding area to park and walk across to one of the larger waterfalls in Northumberland - the valley here is sometimes used by low flying helicopters.
Beyond this at NY643704 is a small compound with a very small parking area opposite - this is sometimes used by FACs and parking may be restricted to any Spadeadam personnel, so best to check first. There is another similar area about 900m further on, which is rarely used, so parking should be okay. Both spots are open to 360° views and are good for photography. Most action is to the north, running mainly right to left, but there can be low level overflights. The road is narrow and regularly used by locals, verges are very soft and care should be taken about where you park.
Beyond this sector has limited parking and turning areas, but can be a good area if helicopters are using the range.
Spotting Sites in Northumberland FC 20 Mar 09:
I drive about the north fairly often and by way of observation note the following areas to explore (some of which you may have already sussed out)
1/ Inbound to Otterburn from the east - I've often seen plenty of activity around Bamburgh southwards, and if you drew a line from Bamburgh to Alwinton, and another line from Alnmouth to Otterburn village, you have an approximation of corridor used to fly into the Otterburn range. Within this corridor there are a few possible high spots to explore around Chatton Moor/Ros castle/Bewick Moor, Simonside, hills NE of Alwinton and Harbottle Hills on the edge of the range.
2/. Inbound to Otterburn and Spadeadam from the south - the Pennine moors in a corridor with its east side being a line between Tow Law to Riding Mill and its west side being a line following the West Allen river valley (and I guess this could be extended right the way across to the Eden valley, but I don't know much about flight routes in that area!). Stanhope Common and Hexhamshire Common can have a fair degree of overflight, with the A68 occasionally being followed by helicopters and hercs. This corridor then leads north into the North Tyne valley which leads up into Otterburn range and westwards into the Spadeadam range. For the latter, a single track road leading form Nunwick/Simonburn up to Stonehaugh follows a ridgeline and low flying aircraft can be seen to the north side of this road above Gofton and Warks Burns. This route leads into the Wiley Sike part of the range to the north side of the Hopealone aerial across Scotchcoultard Waste (great name). The area between Scotchcoulthard waste and Churnside Lodge can be a good place to see helicopters.
3/. As noted above, another corridor into Spadeadam will be via the west Pennines and Eden valley, and I recently had some good viewing of aircraft using the west side of the range overflying the minor road near Allieshaw Rigg near Birdoswald. The poor photo below gives an idea of the height (just a shame that I wasn't better prepared!)
Sorry not to have much specifics, but the chance to see and photograph low flying aircraft in the east seems to be so much a case of good luck rather than planning, especially now-a-days. But if linked to NOTAMs re flights & jamming at Brunton, for example, then perhaps your luck will be
FC Posting 23 Apr 09
The ingress transit corridor into Spadeadam seems to be Duridge Bay - Scots Gap - Bellingham but I may be mistaken with the coordinates!
From FC posting 25 Apr 09
Wiley Sike
Directions for Spadeadam viewing - from the B6318, on the north side of the river Irthing at Gisland, take the right turn towards Gisland Spa hotel, continue due north to just past a property called Moscow (about 2.7 kilometers from the B6318 junction).
Take the slightly unobvious right hand turn at NY625688 onto the narrow road heading due NE to Wileysike, Butterburn & Churnsike.
(If you miss the turn and keep heading north, past various signs and cameras, be prepared to come to a stop at the main Spadeadam security gates!! There is however a view of the horizontal body of a Blue Streak rocket inside the base.)
The public road passes through woodland and then as a single track road onto open grassland with a fairly large hardstanding area on the right to park and walk across to one of the larger waterfalls in Northumberland - the valley here is sometimes used by low flying helicopters.
This road is narrow and regularly used by locals, verges are very soft and care should be taken about where & how you park.
Beyond this at NY643704 is a small compound with a very small parking area opposite - this is sometimes used by FACs and parking may be restricted to any Spadeadam personnel, so best to check first.
For us photographers, if FACs are in-situ, have a chat - they may help the photo opportunities!
There is another similar area about 900m further on, which is rarely used, so parking should be okay.
Both spots are open to 360° views and are good for photography. Most action is to the north, running mainly right to left (or vice versa) with traffic coming in from Hopealone for example, and there can be low level overflights.
A fair bit of the northern part of the range, such as Berry Hill and the 'airfield' is however hidden beyond a ridgeline in the centre of the range to the north of Wiley Sike - most of these areas can only be seen from outside of the range and can be difficult to photograph.
Areas off the road should not generally be walked across and it should be assumed that there can be old ordanance still lying around - you may also interfer with range use or the photo opportunities for others!
Beyond this sector has only limited parking and turning areas, but can be a good area if helicopters are using the range.
The really keen walkers and cyclists may find some good opportunities by using the track from the road just before Churnside Lodge and Bewcastle (approx along the Northing 76 line) - I haven't been up there yet but it could be a good viewing spot near Hazelrigg Crag area for aircraft using the northern sector of the range.
Staying near Spadadam (FC post 12 May 09)
There are numerous B & B establishments within 2to 3 miles of Spade:
• The nearest:- Howard House Farm 2 miles from Wiley Syke B & B only (Cumbrian Miles)
• The next also 2 miles:- Gilsland Spa Hotel owned by the Co-op they do nice inexpensive lunches and dinners.
• This is my favourite:- Bush Nook Guest house 4 miles from Wiley Syke but has commanding views over most of Spadeadam Range, B & B and Dinner not to be missed.
FC posting 8 Mar 10
I think unfortunately some of the previous information posted about good spotting locations disappeared in the 'reorganising' of this site last year.
Wiley Sike at Spadeadam tends to be the place to head for but what's there and when can be rather a good guessing game. If heading there get a good map, don't enter the main MOD area, instead turn right near Moscow NY 62540 68820, stick to the road, don't wander onto the grass (there may not be many signs but they may be rather unhappy to see you in the wrong place), and be considerate of the local users of the single lane track as there aren't many good passing places but there are many good soft verges!
Some of the lead-in locations to the east can be worth taking a risk - a road from Simonburn to Stonehaugh runs parallel to a lead-in valley but again its a single lane road with few passing places, soft verges and some big fast timber lorries hurtling towards you.
If near Otterburn, again a bit of a guessing game, but have a look at http://www.otterburnranges.co.uk/home/map/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.o" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ainingarea - aircraft can tend to access from Rothbury direction and head into range near Harbottle area or come over from the south west / Spadeadam near Kielder. If big guns are about they can be spectacular to watch too. There are some very good leaflets about the range so pcik them up at the TIC in Otterburn Mill.
FC posting 20 Mar 10
However, re Spadeadam (and elsewhere in this region) much will depend on what is happening, luck and sod's law.
Spadeadam should be fine for 400mm if the action is in the Wiley Sike part of the range and is relatively low level. It is the best general location for photography in this area.
You can get to some areas on the fringes of the range that are on the run-in routes and hit lucky on the rare occasions.
If FAC are at Wiley Sike then chances are improved if the lads are chatty and friendly (& vice versa).
And on Thursday you'll generally find a group of stalwarts at Wiley Sike who seem to be part of the scenery(!!), enjoy a chat and have lots of good knowledge about Spade and other areas.
If aircraft are using the northern or western parts of the range then any lens is pretty limited - I have a cheap and cheerful Oly 600mm max zoom and you're still a long way from the nice detail type photos.
NOTAMS for Spade will give a few clues for FAC type ops, but odds and sods will come by on other days - range officers here and at Otterburn could give useful info in the past (but I gather can sometimesbe less helpful now-a-days), but I tend to just go and enjoy the scenery and cross fingers!
Good luck - if nothing else there's some lovely scenery to see, so hope the weather holds good for you too.
I'm not too sure about Otterburn, but check the webpages noted previously for a few clues nearer the time, as well as the MOD exercises/low fly web pages. "
END OF QUOTES
Hope this is helpful to people visiting the area and I haven't upset anyone by copying it here. Moderators - please amend or delete if I've transgressed any rules.
hertsman
