Everyone is guaranteed a wild experience at Kielder Water and Forest Park. Here you can thrive in a natural world that is more than just a treat: it’s absolutely vital to our everyday lives.
Amazing animals and plants live all over the Park. Lots of common species can be seen every day, and rare and spectacular species can often be spotted too. Visits are more rewarding and memorable when this wildlife is experienced first-hand. There are several nature hubs at Kielder Water & Forest Park: Tower Knowe, Bakethin Nature Reserve and Kielder Castle, each with up-to-date information, activities and tips, it’s safer and easier to find memorable places to play and discover first-hand what else is Living Wild at Kielder as the wildlife changes throughout the year.
Tower Knowe and Kielder Castle have parking, cafés, information and toilets. Tower Knowe Visitor Centre near Kielder dam introduces the whole Park. From there you can also explore the secrets of the lake shore and headlands, seeing rare plants and spectacular views. It’s simple to spot animals from family nature trails and architectural viewing points around Kielder Castle and nearby (parking near viaduct and limited spaces at the dipping pond) Bakethin Nature Reserve and you can learn about the salmon’s incredible journey at Kielder Salmon Centre.
The incredible and unique life cycle of the salmon starts here!
Kielder Water & Forest Park, Kielder, Northumberland, NE48 1HX
| kielder.salmon.centre@environment-agency.gov.uk |
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Open daily - 10am - 4pm April to the end of September |
The Environment Agency’s Salmon centre is the largest conservation Salmon hatchery in England and Wales. Visit the centre to learn all about why the Environment Agency raises thousands of young salmon to be released into the River Tyne - the country's most thriving Salmon river. But that's not all you can see here! The Centre also rears Fresh water pearl mussels, one of the UK's most endangered species, which you can see in our outdoor river system.
Come here to:
Take a walk around the visitor centre to find out more about the fascinating life cycle of the Atlantic salmon and the work of the salmon centre. See the adult fresh-water pearl mussels living in our artificial stream and the trout that are a vital part of their fascinating lifecycle.
There are eight Kielder walks on the ViewRanger app - see www.viewranger.com/en-gb to suit all walking abilities and interests. From short and easy including Bakethin and Tower Knowe, to longer and more difficult including Wildwood and Kielder Castle and Nature Reserve.
Simply install the free app and search for Kielder Water & Forest Park Wild Walks. You can then easily download the route and information on a smartphone before you visit, so you have it to hand whilst walking. The app not only gives directions, route map and photographs, it also suggests what to look out for and offers fascinating wildlife information at each waypoint. Visitors can also listen to audio clips of Kielder wildlife experts talking about all the varied species who live here, forestry experts and the Art & Architecture curator.
