Colt Crag Reservoir

Coordinates: 55°05′53″N 2°06′11″W / 55.098°N 2.103°W

Colt Crag Reservoir
Colt Crag Reservoir
 Colt Crag Reservoir shown within Northumberland
OS grid reference NY935782
List of places
UK
England
Northumberland

Colt Crag Reservoir is a relatively shallow reservoir in Northumberland, England adjacent to the A68 road, and 9 miles (14 km) north of Corbridge. The A68 road at this point runs along the course of Dere Street, a Roman road.

History

The reservoir was built at the end of the 19th century for the Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company. The reservoir forms part of a series of reservoirs along the A68 which are connected by tunnels and aqueducts from Catcleugh Reservoir to Whittle Dene;[1] from where drinking water is supplied to Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, and some surrounding areas. The reservoirs that form the chain are, from northwest to southeast: Catcleugh ReservoirColt Crag ReservoirLittle Swinburne ReservoirHallington ReservoirsWhittle Dene.

Flora and fauna

Much of the reservoir is fringed by mature coniferous plantation, although birch and beech also grow here with bramble and raspberry providing much of the field layer.[1]

One of Colt Crag's main attractions are the great crested grebes, and there is also a colony of 20-30 pairs of house martins that return each year to nest under the eaves of the boathouse. The rough grassland adjacent to the site provides ideal breeding habitat for the cuckoo, meadow pipit, whinchat, and wheatear.[1]

Badgers are known to use the site during the summer months, and both pipistrelle and noctule bats may be seen feeding around the sheltered north eastern end of the reservoir.[1]

Colt Crag Reservoir
Location Northumberland
Coordinates 55°05′53″N 2°06′11″W / 55.098°N 2.103°W
Type reservoir
Basin countries United Kingdom

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "About our sites". 2006–2009. Retrieved 2010-10-15.