The journey through stunning Northumberland and Borderland scenery, just adds to the Kielder experience.
Kielder is:
- 30 miles from Hexham, about 50 minutes’ drive time. Take the B6320 to Bellingham (brown-signed Kielder Water & Forest) and then the C200 to Kielder Water & Forest Park.
- 55 miles from Newcastle upon Tyne, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Follow the A69 to the west of Hexham, then follow the B6320 to Bellingham (brown-signed Kielder Water & Forest) and then the C200 to Kielder.
- 40 miles from Carlisle, about 1 hour 30 minutes on those roads. Follow the A69 to the east of Hexham, then follow the B6320 to Bellingham (brown-signed Kielder Water & Forest) and then the C200 to Kielder.
- 30 miles from Jedburgh, taking about 1 hour. Take the A68 heading south to Otterburn then the B6320 to Bellingham. From there, follow the C200 to Kielder.
Anyone travelling from the south west of Scotland should follow the A7 and leave the road at Canonbie to join the B6357 to Newcastleton. Kielder Water & Forest is signposted from there.
If you are coming from the north, or just fancy a rewarding detour, and you have a sturdy 4x4, you might want to consider arriving via the scenic Kielder Forest Drive, a gravel surfaced road accessed from the A68, south of Carter Bar at Byrness. It is open annually from the start of May to the end of November. There is a charge to use the Forest Drive.
If you are planning to use the Forest Drive, download a Travelling Tales guides guide to make the most of your trip along the Forest Drive. The guide details some of the flora and fauna you might to expect to see and explores the way the man has intervened into the wild border landscape.
Downloadable content
Whichever way you come, take your time, don’t speed, enjoy the scenery and look out for wildlife.
You are heading into one of England’s most rural locations so make sure you have plenty fuel, or charge, for your trip.
No problem when you get here, there is an unmanned filling station taking card payments only, in Kielder village. It is open 7 days a week, 7:00am to 7:00pm. If you are electric, there are charging points in the main visitor locations.
Car Parking
The money taken from car parking at Kielder, assists and enables reinvestment in visitor facilities and other aspects such as habitat preservation and protection of species which are important to everyone.
You can park for a full day (up to 3am so you can do a bit of stargazing) for £5. That ticket is transferable, so you pay once to park across the site. If you only want to stay for an hour, it is £2.
Charges apply to all users including Blue Badge holders. Designated bays close to facilities and amenities are provided for Blue Badges.
Tickets are purchased from machines, so you will need coins, or you can purchase online in advance via bookwhen.com/car-parking. If you purchase via Bookwhen, please make sure you print off a ticket or proof of payment and display in your vehicle as not all car parks have the technology to recognise a paperless online payment.
More details, including motor home and overnight parking provisions, can be found in Know Before You Go.
By Bus:
Currently, there are no scheduled public transport services to Kielder but a service is operated between Kielder and Hexham on Tuesdays and Fridays by Adapt. Seats must be booked is advance by ringing 01434 600599. Times can vary but more information will be given when the booking is made.
