Otterburn Training Area
Otterburn Training Area | |
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Otterburn | |
![]() The southern entrance to Otterburn MoD camp | |
![]() ![]() Otterburn Training Area Location within Northumberland | |
Coordinates | 55°22′10″N 2°18′20″W / 55.36944°N 2.30556°W |
Type | Training Area |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | ![]() |
Site history | |
Built | 1911 |
Built for | War Office |
In use | 1911 – present |
The Otterburn Army Training Estate (ATE) is a military training area near Otterburn, Northumberland, in northern England. It is owned by the UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) and operated by on contract from the MoD's Defence Infrastructure Organisation.[1] The range is used for training up to 30,000 soldiers per year.[citation needed] The site was established in 1911[2] and covers about 242 square kilometres (93 sq mi) of the southern Cheviot Hills, 23% of the Northumberland National Park.[3]
Otterburn is the UK's largest firing range, and is in frequent use. The ranges are used by AS-90 artillery and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems; Otterburn is the only place in the UK where the MLRS can be fired, requiring an 11 mile long via 2 mile wide firing range.[2][4] Because of the danger posed by live fire exercises, recreational use of the area is restricted, although it is possible for the public access 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.[5]
Gallery[]
Otterburn Ranges. The road leading into the Ministry of Defence Ranges, and the red flag showing that the army are practising live firing there.
Signpost for Otterburn Crossroads on the MoD ranges
Entrance to the Otterburn Ranges near Holystone - note the cattle grid
References[]
- ^ Frances Perraudin (24 August 2016). "Tributes paid to soldier killed in Otterburn live firing exercise". The Guardian.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "DTE Otterburn Public Information Leaflet" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Otterburn Ranges". Northumberland National Park. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
- ^ Nicholas Schoon (26 April 1997). "Travel: Tanks for the wildlife". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014.
- ^ Walking guides on the Defence Estate, including Otterburn. Ministry of Defence
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Otterburn Ranges. |
- DTE Otterburn - Public information leaflet, Defence Estates, Ministry of Defence
- Otterburn firing times, Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Ministry of Defence
- Bombing ranges
- Cheviot Hills
- Geography of Northumberland
- Otterburn, Northumberland
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Northumberland
- Training establishments of the British Army