Northumberland Holiday Guide 2009
Kielder Water & Forest Park The Osprey
Leaplish/Tower Knowe
Kielder Water & Forest Park
01434 251000
North Tyne Valley
www.nwl.co.uk/kielder www.visitkielder.com
www.visitkielder.com
This 80 seater motor cruiser sails between Tower Knowe and Leaplish
www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk
Visitor Centres daily from March to October and five days a week during
The vast Kielder Forest covers much of the western half of the National
the winter. With an on-board bar, shop, heated lounge and toilets, The
Park and Kielder Water is the largest man-made lake in Europe. The
Osprey is the perfect way to see Kielder’s 27 mile shoreline in comfort.
former is managed by the Forestry Commission and the latter by
Northumbrian Water and happily both have made public access to
AlNWICK, COAST & COuNTRy
these unique areas a priority. There are miles of walking, cycling and
bridle paths through the forest whilst the lake has facilities for sailing,
Alnwick Town
waterskiing, canoeing and fishing. There are excellent visitor centres at
Kielder Castle, Leaplish Waterside Park and Tower Knowe (see below).
The 27 mile Lakeside Way opens in 2009.
Kielder Castle Forest Park Visitor Centre
Kielder Village
01434 250209
www.forestry.gov.uk/northeastengland www.visitkielder.com
The former hunting lodge of the Dukes of Northumberland, located
at the northern end of the lake, is now the main visitor centre for the
Forest Park with a café, guided walks, wildlife exhibitions, art gallery,
gift shop, children’s adventure playground, pony trekking, fishing, off-
road forest drive, picnic area, toilets and car park. Cycle hire is available
at The Bike Place in Kielder Village (see below).
Leaplish Waterside Park
Kielder Water
01434 250294
www.nwl.co.uk www.visitkielder.com
Alnwick Castle, Mario Czekirda
Leaplish is the main visitor centre for Kielder Water with a campsite,
lodge style accommodation, indoor heated pool, sauna, play garden,
‘mapping’ mini-golf and boat hire. There is tasty food and drink at the
Alnwick Castle
cosy Boatside Inn Restaurant & Bar and a bird of prey centre (see
01665 510777
below).
www.alnwickcastle.com
The ‘Windsor of the North’ is a perfectly preserved Medieval fortress
Tower Knowe Visitor Centre
with palatial state rooms open to the public. The Castle houses the
Kielder Water
Northumberland Fusiliers Regimental Museum and other historical
0870 2403549
displays, whilst the mighty battlements have innumerable screen credits
www.nwl.co.uk/kielder www.visitkielder.com
from’ Blackadder’ to’ Harry Potter’. There’s a ‘Knights School’ for
Tower Knowe is home to the Kielder Water Sailing Club, an informative
children, an excellent café/gift shop and a full calendar of events.
exhibition, picnic area, Osprey ferry terminal (see below) and a waterside
cafe. There is also a fishing tackle shop selling equipment and permits,
The Alnwick Garden
whilst motor boat hire is available from Leaplish (see above).
Alnwick Castle
01665 511350
www.alnwickgarden.com
Bakethin Wildlife Reserve
Alnwick Castle is still home to the Dukes of Northumberland and the
Kielder Village
current Duchess has converted a derelict part of the old gardens into a
www.nwl.co.uk/kielder www.visitkielder.com
breathtaking contemporary formal garden. There’s a Grand Cascade,
The northern arm of Kielder Water, known as Bakethin, is a wildlife refuge
fountains, Bamboo Labyrinth, Rose Garden, Water Sculpture Garden,
for rare animals such as otters, rare birds such as ospreys and rare plants
Poison Garden, Visitor Centre, Garden Shop and Europe’s largest
such as the northern spike rush. Fishing and boating are not permitted
treehouse big enough to house an arboreal restaurant.
but there is a walking trail from the car park at Butteryhaugh Bridge.
New for 2009 – the Cherry Orchard…
The Bike Place
Kielder Village
01434 250457 (0845 634 1895 Oct-Apr)
www.thebikeplace.co.uk
Wide choice of two wheeled transport, ideal for exploring Kielder
Forest. There are cycles for all ages to hire by the hour or day as well as
clothing, accessories, maps, guides, and a cycle repair service.
Kielder Sculpture Park
Kielder Forest
www.nwl.co.uk/kielder www.visitkielder.com
There are imaginative art installations throughout the main visitor areas
of Kielder Forest and the Lakeside Way. Guides to the artwork and
maps of walking and cycling trails to each site are available from
Leaplish Visitor Centre.
Kielder Water Birds of Prey Centre
Leaplish Waterside Park
01434 250400
www.kielderwaterbirdsofpreycentre.com www.visitkielder.com
Get close to owls, eagles, vultures, falcons and hawks to learn more
about these magnificent birds.
The Treehouse, Alnwick Garden, Peter Atkinson
www.visitnorthumberland.com 39
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