On Saturday 17th July, mountain bikers gathered in Kielder for the third round of The Bike Place Marathon Series. Two laps of around 26kms was the order of the day, but following a week of almost continuous rain, the event name The Hot Trod seemed a little out of context.

However, the sun did shine for most of the day, and the route laid out by the organisers whilst proving to be demanding was popular with most of the riders. Using parts of the Lonesome Pine and Bloody Bush trails inter linked with forest roads and a few off piste sections was just the mix they were hoping for.

A 10  year  old  wildlife  fan  from  Chatton, near Wooler, enjoyed a very special  audience with three ospreys in the wilds of Kielder Water & Forest Park! Olivia Graham, who attends Glendale Middle School, Wooler, won a first ever competition  to suggest names for each of the chicks and came up with Aqua, Spray and Splash.

Olivia  was  inspired  by internet video footage of the Kielder ospreys and opted  for  a  watery theme for the fish hunting creatures. As a reward she was invited by the Kielder Partnership to accompany rangers on a mission to ring the young birds before they fledge later this month.

Mountain bike riders be advised that there is a Rally Event run by the Dirt-bike Action Motorcycle Club throughout the Kielder Area on the weekend of the 17th & 18th of July. The route of which may impact fire-road areas of Lonesome Pine, Bloody Bush, Deadwater and the Osprey Trail. The Motorcycles will be on route from 9am until 5pm both days so please take care out in the forest.

For more information nearer the event see the website www.dirtbike-action.co.uk

Thank You

On 21st of June this year, 6 slightly crazy mountain bikers will be riding the grueling red route at Dalby Forest from dawn till dusk in support for ‘Help For Heroes’; the armed forces rehabilitation charity. On the longest day of the year, for 16.5 hours, we will tackle the leg burning climbs and the extreme saddle sore to show our gratitude for the brave sacrifice many of our Armed Forces personnel make so far from home.

A successful day's building in the Castlewood Skills Loop, rebuilding part of the Black Grade run.

KTR Chairman, Chris Tait, tells us all about it...