Otterburn Training Area

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 Landmarc on contract from the MoD's Defence Infrastructure Organisation.[1] The range and is used for training up to 30,000 soldiers per year. The site was established in 1911[2] and covers about 242 square kilometres (93 sq mi) of the southern Cheviot Hills.

Otterburn Training Area
Otterburn
The southern entrance to Otterburn MoD camp
Otterburn Training Area
Location within Northumberland
Coordinates55°22′10″N 2°18′20″W
TypeTraining Area
Site information
OwnerMinistry of Defence
Operator British Army
Site history
Built1911
Built forWar Office
In use1911 – present

Otterburn is the UK's largest firing range, and is in frequent use: artillery can be clearly heard from Lindisfarne to the northeast and Fontburn to the south. 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][3]

The training area accounts for 23% of the Northumberland National Park.[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 matter.[5]

References
  1. Frances Perraudin (24 August 2016). "Tributes paid to soldier killed in Otterburn live firing exercise". The Guardian.
  2. Otterburn Public Information Leaflet pdf. hsmt.info Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Nicholas Schoon (26 April 1997). "Travel: Tanks for the wildlife". The Independent.
  4. "Otterburn Ranges". Northumberland National Park. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  5. Walking guides on the Defence Estate, including Otterburn. Ministry of Defence
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