Visitor monitoring: Otterburn Training Area

Abstract

To assess the effect of military land use on recreation, a visitor monitoring scheme was implemented on part of the Otterburn Training Area (OTA), which lies within Northumberland National Park. A questionnaire survey and visitor counts were used to assess recreational use and to appraise the attitude of visitors to the military presence. Visitors were predominantly middle aged, repeat visitors, walking long distances in small groups. Most were aware of the designation of OTA, but frequently unaware of any military activity. Use levels and patterns at five locations provide the basis of an estimate of use for the year.