Outdoor Things to do in Kielder, Northumberland

Our main reason for visiting Kielder was to see the osprey.

Being ignorant in not knowing they migrated to Africa in the winter, we had no luck at seeing these magnificent birds on our last trip to the Scottish highlands. Since then we had the desire to see them the following year. We started doing more research on how best to see them in Scotland, but to our surprise, we found they were closer to home than we realised - Northumberland!

My ignorance led me to believe that England had little wildlife when it comes to unique birds. But what my research taught me was that we didn’t need to travel as far as I thought. Being from the South East, the highlands were over a 12-hour drive from us, so we were happy to find out we could actually see these birds in Kielder, a mere 5 hours away. And we were surprised that within 10 minutes of arriving in Kielder, we found one soaring above us looking for fish in the water!

Situated in the North of England, immense effort had been put in place in Kielder to accommodate these birds back to their natural habitat. Not only was it an ideal place for the birds, but it was also an ideal place for us to visit.

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But Kielder has more to offer than just birds. The area is quintessentially English. With stone houses covered in rhododendrons, moss-covered forests and nature trails lined with daisies and friendly robins.

It’s not often you can say you’ll eat good food, stumble on easy nature trails, see rare wildlife and meet friendly locals. It’ll be hard to come by another place in England like Kielder.

So if you’re a bird lover like ourselves or you just enjoy the outdoors, here is a list of some wonderful things to do around Kielder, Northumberland.

HISTORY OF KIELDER

The landscape of Kielder Water and Forest Park is entirely man-made. The reservoir is the largest man-made body of water in Northern Europe and the forest surrounding the water is the largest in England.

Prior to the 1920s, the area was mostly moorland. But a scheme was planned in the 1960s because of a high demand for water to support the growing industrial economy in the UK. The work was completed in 1981 and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II herself. The valley was so large that it took a further two years to fill with water completely!

Kielder has since become a haven for wildlife, with beauty around every corner. It’s the perfect playground for lovers of wildlife, nature, walking and stargazing!

OSPREYS WITH WILD INTRIGUE

Wild Intrigue is a “small team with huge ambition.” They create unique opportunities to inspire, educate and rewild people with wildlife experiences in The North. They hold mini expeds and safaris to see wildlife such as:

Ospreys Watching Cruise
Breakfast with Red Squirrels
Sunset Kittiwake Safari
Goats & Gourmet
Frogs & Flapjacks

We went on their Osprey Watching Cruise which was the highlight of our trip! Guided by expert naturalists, we learnt about the birds, their migration journey and where they’ve been nesting around Kielder. Only the week before had one of the breeding pairs laid eggs - this made it the thirteenth consecutive year!

If anyone had gone on a wildlife experience, you know that it’s sometimes down to chance if you’ll see what you’re looking for. But on the boat trip, we were privileged to see the osprey around 10 times! Twice they even flew over our heads, gracefully gliding across the lake on the hunt for some dinner.

When? Every Wednesday and Saturdays
Price? £35.00
Location: Kielder Waterside
Cruise length: 2 hours

Kielder, which resembles unpredictable Scottish weather can be pouring with rain one minute and sunny with clear skies the next. But this can be an advantage. When it’s raining the bird’s can’t take flight, however, they need to eat. So once the rain stops you know it won’t be long till they’re out on the water looking for fish.

TIP: We saw the osprey every day, all around the lake but primarily near the dam.

2. See the Darkest Skies in the country

Northumberland is known for having some of the darkest skies in the whole of the country. They’re fortunate to have very low levels of light pollution meaning they have the most ‘pristine dark skies’ in England!

Excitingly, the Northumberland National Park and most of Kielder Water and Forest became the country’s first “International Dark Sky Park” back in 2013, and the skies have been astonishing visitors ever since.

Whilst the dark sky can be enjoyed anywhere in the park, we’d highly recommend a visit to the Kielder Observatory which is located in the largest “gold-tier” dark sky part in Europe. They hold daily events for adults and kids all year round. During the winter with the darkest skies, you can witness deep sky objects like galaxies and nebulae and in the summertime, you can see star clusters, shooting stars and the surface of the moon and sun.

Read our article “9 WONDERFUL REASONS TO VISIT NORTHUMBERLAND” for more information on why you should visit and what there is to see and do! From Roman ruins and ancient history to one incredible national park.

3. Forest Trails

As always with Northumberland, we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. Kielder forest features miles of scenic trails for you to explore varying in length and difficulty. From gentle strolls to more strenuous hikes, there is a trail for everyone.

Many of the trails start from Kielder Castle so this is a good base to begin. An example of some of the trails:

Duke’s Trail

Start: Kielder Castle

Time: approx 1 hour

Length: 1.5 miles / 2.4km

Difficulty: easy

Duchess Trail

Start: Kielder Castle

Time: approx 1 1/4 hours

Length: 1 3/4 miles / 3km

Difficulty: moderate

Skyspace & Kielder Observatory trail

Start: Kielder Castle

Time: approx 2 hours

Length: 3 3/4 miles / 6km

Difficulty: difficult

The longest of all the trails is The Lakeside Way. This trail is 26 miles long and encircles the shoreline of Kielder Water. The trail gives you the opportunity to experience the whole of the reservoir. You can get up close to some of Kielder’s abundant wildlife like red squirrels, osprey and water voles which call Kielder their home.

We walked parts of the Lakeside Way. The trail is so peaceful, especially early in the morning. At the start, we saw the osprey gliding above us and then enjoyed the tranquil sounds of the soft waves and birds in the distance.

Wildlife is often shy and difficult to spot, but not at Kielder. Keep your eyes out for red squirrels. Around 50% of England’s native red squirrel population live in Kielder!

4. Wildlife at Bakethin Nature Reserve

Along with the Osprey boat trips, there are many other birds and wildlife on offer to see in Kielder, especially in the Bakethin Nature Reserve.

Located at the north-western end of Kielder Water, the reserve is a tranquil place to relax, take in the sound of the birds and explore the mossy forest floor. In this area, you can see the osprey, otters, goshawks and many more species.

The Bakethin bird hide is a lovely spot to view the wildlife of the reserve in a calm and unique setting. With the dual viewpoint across the water and also into the forest, take the time to be still and listen, taking in the various sights and sounds.

From the car park, there are a couple of walking trails to follow. Popular routes head to the bird hide and the historic viaduct. The Kielder Viaduct is a great vantage point to spot wildlife with views of the water.

The trails include:
Bakethin & Kielder Viaduct Wild Walk
Start: Kielder Castle
Time: approx 1 1/4 hours
Length: 2.5 miles / 4km
Difficulty: moderate
Bakethin Hide Wild Walk
Start: Bakethin car park
Time: approx 30 minutes
Length: 3/4 miles / 1.1km
Difficulty: easy (disabled friendly)

The variety of habitats on offer at Kielder creates homes for a whole host of wildlife which is impressive and unique in the UK. Visit the Kielder website to see their Wildlife & Nature Calendar.

If you want to see more wildlife in northumberland then read our article “A GUIDE TO THE FARNE ISLANDS, NORTHUMBERLAND”

Another way of seeing birds is by visiting the Kielder Water Birds of Prey Centre. They have one of the largest and most fascinating collections of birds of prey in the North of England. Here you can meet birds like eagles, owls, vultures and other birds. Their very knowledgeable guides teach you about the bird’s essential role within the ecology of the natural world and the conservation, propagation and rehabilitation of the birds.

5. Art & Architecture

Over the years Kielder has become home to a unique collection of visual art and architecture. This open-air art experience can be seen at sites around the lake, in the forest, and around the Northumberland National Park. There are three main trails that you can follow, which start from either Leaplish, Kielder Castle or Hawkhope. But if you don’t follow one of the trails, but explore the forest yourself then we’re sure you’ll bump into a sculpture or two along the way!

A giant head hidden in the forest, a wave chamber enhancing your lake experience and giant rotating chairs are just some of the interactive pieces you’ll find in Kielder. The architecture includes the tranquil Bakethin bird hide and the Kielder Observatory building which resembles the deck of a ship sailing above the landscape.

6. The Kielder Forest Drive

The Kielder Forest drive is the longest and highest Forest Drive in England. The scenic 12 mile (19 km) road winds through the forest between Kielder Castle and Blakehopeburnhaugh.

While at the highest point of the drive visit The Nick. The Nick was designed to provide a variety of lookout points with different aspects of the landscape being highlighted. The structure is made up of 23 pentagonal frames that partially rotate with a stunning view over Kielder.

At the northern end of the drive is Hindhope Linn. This waterfall has been called “One of the area’s best kept secrets” by the Kielder Forest Park trails guide. The narrow waterfall is nestled in amongst the green forest undergrowth and is a peaceful spot to visit.

At the southern end of the drive is Kielder Castle. Formerly a hunting lodge for the Duke of Northumberland, it now has a cafe, and visitors centre and is the base of many trails.

The Kielder Forest drive is a toll road, costing £3 which you can pay for at the toll machine by Kielder Castle.

For more waterfalls to visit in Northumberland read our article “WONDERFUL WATERFALLS TO VISIT IN NORTHUMBERLAND"

WHERE WE STAYED

On our recent stay at Kielder, we stayed at the wonderful Falstone Barns, located in the small village of Falstone. We’d highly recommend staying at the barns as it’s just a short 3-minute drive to Kielder Water.

The owners Paula and Dave were very hospitable and gave us suggestions of places to visit during our Northumberland trip.

During our stay at the barns, I drank my morning coffee whilst watching bunnies hop around in the courtyard filled with wildflowers. You really felt like you had nature and wildlife right on your doorstep.

➜ Booking.com Links: Falstone Barns & other accommodation in Kielder

TIPS

There are multiple car parks around Kielder lake. Each have the same tariff and once you purchase a ticket its transferable for the other carparks throughout the day. This is really handy so you can travel around the lake and only pay once for the day. The car parks are £5 for the day or £2 for one hour or under.
You can purchase a ticket at any carpark but only with cash. If you don’t have cash you can pay for a ticket with card at the Kielder Waterside 24 hour shop.
As always with the north, the weather can be very changeable. Check the weather for the day ahead but also be prepared for it to change. For our recent trip (in May) we needed waterproofs and suncream for the same afternoon!
There are two petrol stations close by. The closest is in Kielder Village (NE48 1EG) and then the other is in Bellingham Village (NE48 2BS).

We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Kielder in Northumberland! If you have any suggestions or have any questions please let us know in the comments below!
Our trip to Kielder was in partnership with the Northumberland tourism board, where we went on assignment to explore Kielder, capturing the most beautiful spots and destinations along the way.