Has anyone been stargazing at Kielder Water and Forest Park in Northumberland?

[alma123]

And if so, how good was it?

It was amazing and we got to see the Northern Lights! We all loved it, dh, dcs aged 10 & 7 and me and could have stayed all night. The staff were wonderful and managed to fully engage the geeky, the interested and the children - very clever.

It was an evening we will never forget and will hopefully get to do again although we live the other end of the country.

I can't recommend it enough!

Happy to answer any specific questions if I can?

xx

Thanks Gremlin - can you share any details of where you stayed, where you went and whether it was a special stargazing event etc. Please PM me if you would prefer, thanks!

We've stayed at the YHA a couple of times. To be honest it's not the best YHA and we won't be stoping again. However Kielder is great for mountain bike riding . Me and DS2 went to the park at night and they were having a night sky session. We were allowedtojoininand we saw Mars tising and all jupiters moons through their telescopes..

I like it up there but needs to find better accomadation for next time.

Amazing.

We stayed at the wood lodges in the park.

It was a lovely break and would highly recommend.

I'd love this. Hmmmm, I wouldn't mind stargazing for my birthday.
Sorry, not helpful, but I'm watching with interest.

Gremlin What time of year did you go? I'd love to see the Northern lights.

Dd & dd did a falconry course there last summer and loved it. I highly recommend it, the staff were amazing and we got to leave the them and sit in the hide watching birds and red squirrels.

I live in kielder forest (but not in kielder village) and the stargazing is amazing. You can see the spiral arm of the galaxy from our garden!

Kielder observatory (just south of kielder village) is open rarely, but the evening sessions it does are fantastic. They're mostly around this time of year, February is apparently the best month for stargazing.

Even if the observatory is shut, you can still go on to a sort of platform on the outside and do some stargazing from there.

Yes, me!! Stayed at the Hoseasons Kielder Water park. We've been twice now, I loved it. Both times in the summer.

The stargazing was fab. We had the chance to do our own stargazing on the outdoor platform as well as use their giant telescope. saw lots of planets and the milky way v clearly, pus a shooting star! I went with 10yo dss and he enjoyed it too.

We love the area. Lots of cycling, forest and lake walks, wildlife watching (red squirrels, adders) and peace and quiet. what's not to like??

Ask if you have any other questions!

I have booked to take DH for his birthday in early March. Any recommendations for a good pub lunch nearby?

The Black Bull in Bellingham is pretty good, or the pub at Leaplish Water Park (maybe called The Boat?) is nice and has good views.

Avoid the cafe at Kielder Castle like the plague!

Oh wow. We're going up there in the summer. Do you have to stay at Kielder or can you just drive down and star gaze. please tell us more about the Northern Lights. That would be a dream come true for the DC.

Yes! Went in December brilliant. We're staying with family nearby. Bear in mind that it can be very cold so wrap up (hats, gloves etc essential in winter, and I even wore leggings under my jeans) and also note that it's at the end of a long, muddy track. Be prepared for the composting loo too! It's worth having some cash for hot drinks too.

Sorry- not sure what happened to punctuation in that first line- "we were staying" and " - brilliant!"

Sorry to disappear! We actually stayed over near Alnmouth on the coast and drove across for the night. We usually book with Northumberland Byways as they have nice cottages. We were there in August, I actually booked the Southern Skys evening I think as it was what was on while we were there and when we got there they had changed it to the Northern Lights - we were very happy!

I must confirm that we could see the start of the Northern lights ie the "curtains" effect forming, rather than the full on effect you can see further North but it was wonderful and made me even more determined to get to Norway etc in the future.

Been to Kielder water once - we were EATEN alive by midges - worst place for them I have EVER been - take plenty of insect repellent!

I really really want to go this summer

Is the Northern Lights thing suitable for kids? or do they prefer you to do the family stuff?