Built in 1775 as a hunting lodge for the Duke of Northumberland, Kielder Castle is now the focal point for visitors to the forest.
The Castle houses a small exhibition about the forest and its wildlife, together with an information centre and Kielder Castle Cafe.
The exhibition is full of fantastic opportunities to get to know the forest and its history better, including an osprey camera providing live footage of the forest's nest sites, an interactive red squirrel exhibition and a dark sky exhibit.
Upstairs in the Castle is the classroom. This is available for hire and is often used for various workshops arranged by the Forestry Commission.
The castle grounds (map) include picnic sites, children's playground and the start of the Duke and Duchess walking trails.
Within the grounds of the Castle is a work of art called Minotaur, which is a maze built of basalt stone and glass. There is also a bird viewing platform in the castle grounds and a squirrel hide a short walk away on the Duke's Trail.
A short pedal from the castle you can test your cycle skills on the mountain bike skills loop before venturing onto the wider trail network.
Stand and deliver! Highway Rat is here
Until November 2018, the Highway Rat will be prowling the grounds of Kielder Castle in a brand new trail. The trail starts at the Castle and can be completed with or without an activity pack (packs give added activities and puzzles and can be purchased from the cafe, £3).
From April to November, Kielder Castle Cafe & exhibition is open 9.30am-5pm (9am-5.30pm during holiday periods and 11am-4pm in November). During the winter period (Dec-March), the cafe is closed on Tuesdays. For more information regarding the cafe phone 01434 250100 or visit Kielder Castle Cafe.
Admission to the Exhibition is free. Access is through the cafe with last entry 30 minutes before closing. The exhibition is open on days the cafe is open, from 10am-5pm (11am-4pm from November to March).
The information point at the Castle is open daily 10am-4pm, except 24 (pm), 25/26 December and 1-2 January.
From January 2018, the Cycle Centre at Kielder Castle is open Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9.30am till dusk. Closed Wednesday and Thursday except for prepaid bookings. For information regarding the Cycle Centre please phone - 01434 250457 or visit Kielder Cycle Centre
The toilets at Kielder Castle are OPEN all the time. Please note, Blakehopeburnhaugh toilet block closes for the winter at the end of October and reopens again on 1 May.
What do other visitors say?
Jen davison, 2/Jan/20181 Star
Very unhappy with our visit at new year. We came a long way to do your stick man trail on our family holiday. My daughter was really looking forward to getting the activities pack from the castle. When we got there on new years eve we found out the castle was closed so my daughter could not do the activities that she was so looking forward to doing as the castle is the only place that sells the pack very upset about the whole thing. Cont believe a very well known popular family place was closed on a family holiday. We new it would be closed new years day so we travelled up a day early to be able to get the pack before we did the trail on new years day.
Forestry Commission ResponseSorry your trip to Kielder Castle at New Year was a disappointment. The Stickman Trail is no longer at Kielder but has been replaced with the Highway Rat trail. Activity Packs to supplement the trail are available at Kielder Café or Bike Hire when open. Unfortunately, both were advertised as closed on 31 December.
Please tell us about your visit
Please email us at kieldercastle@forestry.gsi.gov.uk if you have an enquiry, a complaint or would like a personal reply to your comments.