Things To Do In Kielder, Northumberland

Kielder Stargazing

Herding Hill Farm is a great alternative to other Kielder Forest stargazing accommodation. The Kielder dark sky is part of the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park. Herding Hill Farm is a Dark sky friendly campsite and we offer a range of glamping pods, perfect for Northumberland stargazing. Cawfields Quarry, on Hadrian’s Wall, is one of the best places to stargaze in the UK and is less than a mile’s walk from our campsite near Kielder Forest.

The Northumberland National Park is perfect for stargazing and Kielder Forest is said to have the most ‘pristine dark skies’ in England, thanks to its location having very low levels of light pollution.

Kielder Observatory

If you are looking for Kielder stargazing pod accommodation near Kielder Observatory our luxury Running Water Wigwam cabins with hot tubs might be of interest? Located approximately 1 hour’s drive from our 5-star Northumberland campsite, Kielder Observatory is a magical and unique visitor attraction for Kielder stargazing. Built on stilts and seeming to float in the darkness, the building itself is an architectural delight and the sessions interesting and informative even if the weather is not so kind. And on a clear night the Kielder dark skies are truly spectacular. If you are attending one of the midnight stargazing events, please make sure you wrap up warm. There are also plenty of Kielder Observatory events, inviting members of the public of all ages, to engage in discussions and observations of the Universe, through a passionate team of astronomers, guest speakers and volunteers. Kielder Forest Observatory event topics include astrophotography, aurora nights as well as events for young stargazing explorers. All Kielder observatory events sell out quickly so book early to avoid disappointment. The observatory is only open to visitors who are booked on a specific event.

Herding Hill Farm is open all year round unlike other Kielder glamping sites and with the skies being at their clearest during the Winter months we ensure that you can make the most of your Kielder stargazing trip.

Kielder Water

No Northumberland camping trip is complete without a visit to Kielder Water, the largest manmade lake in Northern Europe. Built in 1974 the reservoir was created to support the booming industrial economy. Construction finished in 1981 and Kielder Water was officially opened by the Queen. Several homes, farms and a school were flooded to make way for this huge body of water. Two hydro-electric generators were also installed at Kielder dam to convert latent energy into electricity for the national grid.

Banked by a walkable dam, today the Kielder Water reservoir is a hive of watersport and cycling activity. Nature lovers, water sports enthusiasts, explorers, walkers, cyclists and families will all find something to do. The best way to explore Kielder is to start at one of the three visitor centres, Tower Knowe, Kielder Waterside or Kielder Castle. Located at Leaplish Waterside, the Kielder Birds of Prey Centre has one of the largest collections of birds of prey in the North of England and is home to over 70 birds including eagles, owls, falcons, hawks and vultures. The Centre offers a variety of courses and experiences including an introduction to falconry, an owl experience and hawk walks.

The Lakeside Way encircles the 27-mile shoreline and is perfect for cyclists, walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders. The Trails Guide published by Kielder has a variety of suggestions of walks and rides. Water activities on Kielder Water include canoeing, sailing, water skiing and much more.

For the more adventurous there are numerous activities including Segways, zip wires, high ropes, archery, crossbows, fencing, Water Walkerz, Sea Scooters, Snorkelling, Body Zorbs, Crazy Carts and Crazy Trikes.

Kielder Forest Park

Kielder Forest glamping will take you back to nature, it is over 250 square miles and is the largest working forest in England. It is one of Britain’s largest nature reserves with a thriving wildlife including rare red squirrel, deer and some rare birds. Kielder Forest is home to around half of the UK’s red squirrel population. From the end of March, if you are very lucky you may even spot an osprey hunting over Kielder Water. There is an Osprey Watch between end April and middle August. An extensive network of off-road tracks makes it perfect for mountain bikers. So why not try a spot of camping at Kielder Forest Park?

Bakethin Nature Reserve is a perfect spot to watch otters, with two nature hides including the ‘Bakethin Hide’, a new wildlife watching space delivered in collaboration with Newcastle University’s School of Architecture.

Kielder Culture

If you enjoy combining Northumberland glamping with a spot of culture, the Kielder Art and Architecture Trail starts from Kielder Castle Visitor Centre and contains a number of sculptures and installations in the surrounding Kielder Forest and Kielder Water. A great way to do the trail is on bikes, which can be hired from The Bike Place in Kielder Village. Most pieces are fully accessible to visitors and along the 26-mile Lakeside Way. You can see the award winning futuristic shelter ‘Kielder Belvedere’ by Softroom Architects; experience James Turrell’s light sculpture chamber ‘Kielder Skyspace’ which lets you see the sky above; discover the story of Freya and Robin in Studio Weave’s ‘Freya’s Cabin’; or contemplate the play of water on the waves in Chris Drury’s ‘Wave Chamber’. There are many other varied works of art and architecture with their own stories to tell.

Herding Hill Farm is the perfect 5-star Northumberland campsite near Kielder offering luxurious Kielder glamping and stargazing pods. A stay at our gorgeous Dark Sky Friendly Park lets you combine outdoor activities and water sports on Kielder Water, the amazing history and scenery of Hadrian’s Wall, spectacular dark skies for Kielder stargazing, amazing wildlife in Kielder Forest, the culture of the Kielder Art and Architecture Trail and the informative and interesting events at the world-famous Kielder Observatory.