Observant birdwatchers may see some of our more elusive feathered friends.
The River Irthing and the Tipalt Burn – along with many smaller streams – rise in wild moorland,
and are frequented by oyster catchers, larks, plovers, curlews, bustards, sparrow hawks and dippers.
The Irthing descends to a winding wooded valley on its way westwards after the spectacular
Crammel Linn waterfall. The Tipalt is prone to flash floods and flows east from Thirlwall Castle
(the woodland here is being made accessible by the National Park authority) and hosts herons and
kingfishers, newts and trout.
