Between Newcastle Upon Tyne And Edinburgh Is An Idyllic Nature Escape With Trails, Lake Views, And Starry Skies

Adjacent to England's Northumberland National Park, Kielder Forest stretches for 250 square miles. The woodland is known for its untamed beauty; large, man-made lake, and exceptionally dark skies. Kielder makes an idyllic escape for wildlife lovers and budding astronomers. By day, winding trails take you deep into the 155,000-acre forest and along the lake shore, while at night, millions of stars can be seen from Kielder Observatory. It's the perfect day out for anyone who loves exploring the wilderness.

There are around 150 million trees in Kielder Forest according to Visit Northumberland, making it the ideal habitat for wildlife. While hiking, keep your eyes peeled for native species such as otters, roe deer, and water voles. Pine martens can sometimes be seen from the trails, and there are hides for more focused viewing. The forest is a haven for endangered wildlife too, with around 50% of England's red squirrel population found there.

Kielder Forest is one of the best places in the country to see ospreys in the wild. Nesting platforms have been erected to encourage these rare birds to return to Northumberland, bringing them back from extinction in England and Scotland. You can observe these majestic birds during the Osprey Watch, which runs from April to August at Tower Knowe Visitor Centre. Go in May or June for a chance to see osprey chicks being fed on a live nest cam. 

Kielder Forest is also home to the biggest man-made lake in northern Europe, with the whole area known as the Kielder Water and Forest Park. Like the nearby Lake District National Park, which has hiking trails and lake views, Kielder has a network of walking and cycling routes for all abilities. From family-friendly forest strolls to longer adventures taking in the whole lake, the trails begin at Kielder Castle Visitor Center, where you'll find parking and route maps.

For a short but scenic trail, the Lakeside Way and Kielder Viaduct Loop is less than 3 miles and takes in pine forest, Kielder Water, and views from the top of a Victorian viaduct. For a longer hike, the Kielder Lakeside Way is a 26-mile circular route around Kielder Water, passing Kielder Dam and running along the reservoir shoreline. Mountain bikers and cyclists have over 100 miles of trails to explore in Kielder Forest. Trails are graded according to difficulty, from the gentle, green Borderline route to the more technical, black Deadwater.

Kielder Forest Drive is a great option for those who prefer to explore in comfort, with a 12-mile, unsealed track running through the forest from Kielder Castle to Blakehopeburnhaugh in the east. Open between May and December, the forest drive is England's highest road through woodland and best tackled in a vehicle with reasonable ground clearance. 

In the heart of this vast Northumberland forest, Kielder Observatory is one of the best stargazing locations in the U.K., thanks to the lack of light pollution across the region. England's northernmost county is home to the largest Gold-Tier International Dark Sky Park in Europe, giving visitors the chance to stargaze, watch meteor showers, and spot constellations above the forest. Access to Kielder Observatory is through expert-led stargazing experiences and guided Dark Sky nights, where science and storytelling are used to bring the night sky to life. These ticketed sessions last three hours and can be booked through Kielder Observatory's website.

From the observatory, you can see the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye, making Kielder Forest one of the top locations for stargazing without equipment. There are several powerful telescopes too, for close-up views of the moon and planets — you can even spot Saturn's rings when conditions are right. Stargazing in Kielder is best in fall and winter, when the night skies tend to be clearer and it gets dark earlier.

You can drive right up to the observatory and park outside before your stargazing session. Allow plenty of time as the access track is rural and narrow. If you don't want your astronomical adventure to end, check out the nearby SkyDen. The self-catering cabin in Kielder Forest has a roof that lifts off — so you can watch the stars from your bed.