Walk - Kielder Dam to Plashetts Incline

From Hawkhope car park, follow the Lakeside Way along the north shore. En route to the Belling peninsula, the path skirts the historic site of Gordon’s Wall, thought to be the remains of a bastle enclosure. Following the signs for Wave Chamber, leave the Lakeside Way on the left and follow the track either to the left or the right, around the circular Belling peninsula to the headland.
This is the location for Wave Chamber, which projects an image of the water onto its floor and is part of the art and architecture programme. There are stunning views at this location taking in the dam, valve tower, Tower Knowe Visitor Centre, Whickhope inlet and Bull Crag peninsula. The path from the Lakeside Way to Wave Chamber is not designed for leisure bicycles, wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Continuing on from the Belling, the path heads north up the Belling inlet. At the top of the inlet, cross the bridge and head back along to a patch of Scots Pine trees on the corner of the inlet and Kielder Water. This area is known as Cock Stoor. Within the pines is 55/02 an angular steel shelter which is part of the art and architecture programme and is named after the latitude and longitude of the area.
From Cock Stoor visitors may see a stainless steel shelter further along the shoreline. This is Belvedere, part of the art and architecture programme. It looks deceptively close, however, the path turns right and moves inland along the Pot Burn and climbs through the forest before descending back down to the Belvedere. Belvedere won the Stephen Lawrence Prize in 2000 as well as RIBA and Civic Trust awards. To return to Hawkhope, retrace steps or take the Osprey ferry from the jetty next to Belvedere. There are limited sailings from here so it is vital to check the ferry timetable in advance.
Continue from Belvedere heading west to Robin’s Hut, a plain wooden shelter that is directly opposite Freya’s Cabin on the south shore. Both are the subjects of a fairytale from the art and architecture programme. A relatively short distance from Robin’s Hut is a left turning to the Quarry viewpoint. There are excellent views along the lake and across to Leaplish Waterside Park. Old Plashetts Quarry to the left of the viewpoint is where the vast majority of the stone was extracted to construct Kielder Dam. Most of this quarry is now under water. From Plashetts Quarry the Lakeside Way heads northwards up the west side of Plashetts Peninsula giving fabulous views of the upper area of Kielder Water and the fells beyond. Plashetts was a coal mining village which reached its peak in 1914 when it employed 126 men. Little remains to suggest the previous existence of the colliery and Plashetts village. One remnant which is still visible today is Plashetts Incline, a former waggonway which took coal from the colliery site down to the now submerged Border Counties Railway. The Lakeside Way crosses the lower section of the incline, looking back to the lake, would previously have been the coal transfer stations, Plashetts brickworks and Plashetts railway station, the sites of which are all now under the water.