| Otterburn Training Area | |
|---|---|
| Type | Training Area |
| Current owner |
Ministry of Defence |
| Controlled by | Defence Estates[1] |
The Otterburn Army Training Estate (ATE) was established in 1911[2] and covers about 230 square kilometres (90 miles)[3] of the Southern Cheviots. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and used for training some 30,000 soldiers a year. Otterburn is the UK's largest firing range, and is in frequent use — artillery can be clearly heard from Lindisfarne to the north-east and Fontburn Reservoir in the south. The ranges are used by AS-90 Artillery and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System's and Otterburn is the only place in the UK where the MLRS can be fired, requiring a 11 mile long via 2 mile wide firing range[2][4].
The training area accounts for 23% of the Northumberland National Park[5].
Because of this, recreational use of the area is restricted, although it is possible for the public to use some parts of the estate subject to the relevant bylaws. The MoD publishes a booklet, Walks on Ministry of Defence Lands, which offers advice on this matter. [6].