Kielder Forest

Kielder Forest stands in Northumberland, England, around Kielder village and Kielder Water reservoir. It is the largest man-made woodland in England, with three-quarters of its 650 square kilometres covered by forest. Most of the forest lies within Kielder Water and Forest Park, while the southern tip is part of Northumberland National Park. The forest borders the Anglo-Scottish frontier and includes remote hills like Peel Fell, Sighty Crag and Larriston Fells. Sighty Crag is the furthest hill in England from a road, four miles away. The land was once open moorland used for grouse shooting and sheep grazing before forestry began in the 1920s. Forestry England started planting in the 1920s, using unemployed men from mining and shipyard communities housed in instructional centres. Many purpose-built villages, such as Stonehaugh, were created for workers’ families. The forest was originally a strategic timber reserve but now balances timber production with recreation and wildlife. Archaeological remains across the forest link to the area’s turbulent history. Sitka spruce dominates, covering 75% of the planted area, with other conifers and broadleaves also present. Around 475,000 cubic metres of timber are harvested each year for local industries. Kielder Castle, an 18th-century hunting lodge, serves as a visitor centre with walking and cycling trails, picnic areas and a forest drive. The forest features art installations like James Turrell’s Skyspace and Chris Drury’s Wave Chamber. Kielder Observatory offers stargazing under some of the darkest skies in Britain. The annual Kielder Marathon circles the lake, while rally events use the forest’s challenging tracks. Red squirrels thrive here, with a hide near Kielder waterside offering the best chance to see them. Ospreys have nested successfully since 2009, and roe deer populations are actively managed.