Kielder observatory

[tentative3]

Looking at booking a session at Kielder observatory for OH for his Christmas present. Has anyone been? Any feedback? We'd be travelling from sufficiently far that we'd stay over and make a weekend of it. If anyone has been, do you have a recommendation on where to stay?

We have been - a couple of years ago. You are very weather dependent - when we went it came over totally cloudy and we couldn’t see a thing star wise, but they lay on a full evening of talks and stuff to fill in the time. You don’t get your money back because, as they explained, if they did that in the UK they would fast run out of funding.

We were staying in the area so can’t help on places to stay.

I would definitely recommend it but you have to be prepared to be slightly disappointed if it’s a cloudy/wet night.

Staying for a week that is - local holiday cottage.

It's lovely on a clear night, but wrap up warm.

Thanks both. I've read about the weather policy and totally get it but it is the one thing giving me pause for thought - there is another company who will do a star gazing experience much closer to home and reschedule if the weather isn't good but obviously you don't get the whole observatory experience and I quite fancy a few days in the area anyway so then I lean back towards just booking it.

@mimbleandlittlemy what was the holiday cottage you stayed in and would you recommend it?

Wouldn’t recommend it for Kielder - it was from Northumbrian Country Cottages and lovely, but a rather hairy drive back on very narrow roads late at night from the observatory. Definitely try and get as near as you can.

It’s such a stunning part of the UK. Had hoped ds was going to head that way to uni but he is heading to Birmingham. No clear skies reserve there!

Great, thanks. Yes, I don't fancy a late night long drive, especially since I'm looking at a winter booking!

We've stayed in a lodge at Landal Kielder Waterside (booked through Hoseasons) before which was very nice. The lodges are very nicely equipped, many with hot tubs Think it's about 6/7 miles from the observatory.

It wasn't too cloudy the night we went but we didn't get to see the northern lights either however the whole night is very interesting even if you don't get to see loads, I've attached a picture of the moon one of the observatory staff took on my phone.
We stayed at the Kielder water hoseasons/landal which was basic but nice enough (we were booked in the most basic lodge though, and I know they were building some lovely looking ones when we were there).
We went for 3 nights and had a great trip kielder really is beautiful.

Xmas post with Silver, it's a good few years since we went so every chance the hoseasons lodges are better equipped now

It's a dark sky area so there are other places, like Battlesteads, you can view the stars too.

We did this around 6 years ago OP. It was fantastic! Yes a slightly hairy drive in the dark but it felt fun to be doing something different. We went in February so it was covered in snow and so scenic. Felt like we were in Canada or similar.
Wrap up warm. Take a flask. Wear study boots.

We stayed in a beautiful and cosy shepherds hut here...

hesleysidehuts.co.uk/accommodation/heather/