Sorbietrees
The Kielder Water & Forest Park is a breathtaking area of natural beauty and home to northern Europe's largest man made lake and England's largest forest. There is so much to do at Kielder a day is often not enough.
There are 3 main centres at Kielder.
Tower Knowe Visitor Centre is the best place to orientate yourself with the Kielder area.
Kielder Waterside Park has an indoor swimming pool, sauna, minature golf course, children's play area, red squirrel hide, wildlife garden and the Kielder Water Birds of Prey Centre. You can also board the "Osprey" ferry, an ideal way to see Kielder Water in comfort or hire a pleasure boat (seasonal), Walkers and cyclists can join the Lakeside Way from here a 27 mile circular route around the lake.
Kielder Castle Visitor Centre overlooks Kielder village and was formerly a hunting lodge for the Duke of Northumberland. The castle is now owned by the forestry commission and is home to exhibitions as well as the hub for mountainbike enthusiasts, being the home of the skills area and the starting point for the single track mountain bike trails. There's an adventure playground and maze for children and the start of the Forest Drive toll road, a breathtaking 12 mile journey to Redesdale on one of England's highest roads. Walkers and cyclists can also join the Lakeside way here.
Dark Sky and Observatory
Kielder is also famed for having the darkest night skies in England and is therefore a star gazer's heaven. The Observatory run a programme of events to give visitors access to the award winning Observatory. During daytime the observatory can be visited to walk round the decking by following the signs for the car park for Skyspace and walking up the hill (approx. 50 minutes). However, the turrets can only be operated by full qualified members of the Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society (KOAS) during specific events.
Sorbietrees is the ideal place to stay if you are visiting the observatory. We also have some of the darkest skies in the UK and have dark sky friendly status via Northumberland Tourism. We have special dark sky binoculars which you are welcome to use while staying with us, or just sit outside for a while and take in the full dark sky experience. The milky way is easily visible to the naked eye and you will be amazed at what you can see. We recommend that if you are visiting the observatory you stay at Sorbietrees for 2 nights which gives more opportunity for clear skies and if you are going to one of the very late sessions which doesn't end until the early hours we can then offer you a later breakfast as there is no urgency for your room to be vacated in preparation for other guests.
