Kielder Water and Forest Park

Kielder Water & Forest Park

OS Grid Reference: NY632934

Best pack an energy bar or two. Not for nothing does Britain's largest forest boast a reputation as one of England's premier MTB playgrounds. And there are new trails for 2007 too - including a purpose-designed skills loop and the euphoria-inducing Deadwater trails.

Forestry Commision England

Deadwater Trails – 16km

Two of the best singletrack trails in England - offering some of the best views in Britain.

Deadwater Trails Choose from the exhilarating Deadwater red trail (difficult grade) or the extremely challenging Up and Over black trail (severe grade).

The red trail (14.7km) is a feature-packed cross-country ride that includes some thrillingly fast sections of singletrack plus technical sections and some steep climbs and descents. The Skellys Rigging section takes in the breathtaking 1900 foot summit of Deadwater Fell, which straddles the English/Scottish border and provides sensational 360° views - from coast to coast on a clear day - and along the way you can expect to encounter boardwalks, berms, large rocks, medium steps, drop-offs, cambers and water crossings. Suitable for proficient mountain bikers with good off-roading skills, the red route is only suitable for better quality mountain bikes and demands a high level of fitness and stamina.

The Up and Over black route (2.3km) is accessed from Deadwater trail at the start of All Along the Watch Tower, A technical trail that includes epic ascents and descents, it's also packed with downhill trail in the Forest Drive section and finally a testing gap jump in the Rattlesnake section for those who want to push their capabilities that little bit further. These last two sections can be missed out by cross-country riders by rejoining the Deadwater red trail at the Superbowl section and returning to Kielder Castle along the Twist and Shout part of the route.

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Castle Wood MTB Skills Loop

Purpose-built to help you try out your mountain biking skills.

This introductory course lies at the Trail Head at Castle Wood, just off the main Kielder Castle car park. A variety of features and tests of ability enable you to guage the different trail gradings, improve your skills and decide which of Kielder’s main trails is right for you.

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Cross Border Trail – 48km Return

Starting from the Kielder Calvert Trail, this historic route can also be accessed from the Lewisburn picnic area. It follows the old Bloody Bush toll road past the confluence of the Lewis Burn and Akenshaw Burns at The Forks, heading westwards. Keeping beside the Akenshaw Burn past the Outdoor Centre, you’ll note the return loop on your left as you head west to the Border.

Cross Border Trail The best direction to ride the loop is anti-clockwise, following the Bloody Bush road up past open ground and later a quarry and over the Buck Burn. You’ll see a recently felled area on your left and the trail becomes a grassy track before reaching the Bloody Bush Toll Pillar – hop off your bike and read the fees that you would once have had to pay to cross the Border, and while you’re there, take a good look at the spectacular views of the Liddesdale Valley and the Scottish Border Hills before the trail joins the forest road and plunges you down through the fragrant conifers, undulating through several long descents before reaching Dykecrofts Information Centre. Here, you’ll find a formal mountain bike trailhead for the Newcastleton 7stanes trails – follow the red grade route to return to Kielder along the scenic Kershope Burn.

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Castle Hill Trail – 11km

Suitable for intermediate cyclists with basic off-road skills, this route can be tackled by mountain bike or hybrid. The trail surface sports small obstacles of root and rock and, while most gradients are moderate, you should be prepared for short steep sections. A good level of fitness is therefore advised.

Starting at Kielder Castle, head off up the Forest Drive. After about 3km of easy riding, take the right turn by the picnic site, cross Kielder Burn and head uphill back into the forest. Stay on the alert for the great view down to Kielder village before a long descent brings you down to join the Village Connection Trail. Turn right here and head back to Kielder, enjoying scenic views of Blakethin Reservoir on the way.

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Village Connection Trail – 14km

Village Connection Trail If you like your tearooms and pubs as much as your stunning views, then this is the trail for you! Linking the welcoming villages of Kielder and Falstone, it includes beautiful lake vistas and great opportunities to spot wildlife.

Head down the hill from Kielder Castle, past the Minotaur Maze artwork, and follow the road east past the youth hostel and out of the village. Turn left towards Gowanburn and along the road above Blakethin Reservoir, past Gowanburn and on to the site of the former mining village of Plashetts. Continuing eastwards, you have the opportunity to make a couple of minor diversions to see two fascinating examples of the Art and Architecture at Kielder programme: the Kielder Belvedere, a contemporary shelter on the shore at Bennyshank, and Wave Chamber on the Belling peninsula, which works as a camera obscura. Meanwhile the main route arrives at Hawkhope on the north side of Kielder dam and continues on to Falstone.

Want to make a day of it? Return to the Kielder dam and cross to the south shore, making your way back to Kielder village via Lakeside Way, joining onto the Kielder to Calvert trail.

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Lakeside Way Trail – 14km

Suitable for beginner and novice cyclists in good health, with basic bike skills, this multi-user route can be tackled by most bikes and hybrids and can also accommodate trailers. Walkers and horse-riders also enjoy the trail as it provides access to some of the lesser known but most scenic parts of the lakeshore, and the gentle gradients make it suitable for the less mobile, pushchairs and wheelchair users. It’s a superb opportunity for beginners and families to enjoy the forest and lakeside experience to the full.

Lakeside Way Trail Relatively flat, the Lakeside Way’s climbs and descents are mainly shallow with no challenging features, although some loose and uneven surfaces add interest to the ride experience.

The trail now open, which leads from the south corner of Kielder dam to Leaplish Waterside Park, is actually just part of a larger project, the remainder of which is still under construction. When completed, the whole Lakeside Way will encircle Kielder Water – the next stretch linking Leaplish to Kielder village, is scheduled for completion in early 2008. For now, if you’re cycling or walking, why not start at Tower Knowe Visitor Centre and return by the Osprey Cruiser from Leaplish? Visit www.kielder.org or telephone 0870 2403549 for a timetable of sailings.

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Kielder to Calvert Trail – 21km

This challenging route runs from Kielder village to the Calvert Trust and back.

Kielder to Calvert Trail It also has links to the Lakeside Way, Deadwater Trails and Cross Border trail, so you can pick and mix your own combinations for a more varied and exciting experience.

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Humble Loop – 12km

A circular trail through a breathtaking part of the forest, with some interesting sites along the way.

Humble Loop Trail Start at the Calvert Trust and follow the tarmac road that runs up alongside the Cranecleugh Burn. Cross over the burn and turn right at the crossroads onto a forest road. Stunning views will begin to unfold as you head south-easterly – hop off for a spot of peaceful contemplation at the isolated cottage before continuing on your way. Having slowly turned through 180°, the trail heads back north west along the Humble Burn – look out for the poignant remains of ancient settlements and their sheep stalls before turning alongside Binky Crags to your right – you’ll see Deadwater Fell rising ahead in the far distance. A loose-surface downhill section brings you back to the original crossroads – turn right to head back to the Calvert Trust.

If you fancy a longer ride or want to call into the visitor centres at Tower Knowe, Leaplish Waterside Park or Kielder Castle, follow the links back onto the Lakeside Way and the Kielder Calvert Trail.

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