Kielder driving route

If you’re looking for a fab driving route for a quiet getaway amongst gorgeous surroundings, then consider heading to Kielder Water and Forest Park. We visited on a weekend in the summer holidays and it was so quiet. It’s very remote, so I think that helps keep the hoards of tourists away, but for us that just adds to the charm.

Map of Driving Route

1st stop – Lakeside View Car Park

For the first incredible views over Kielder Water, we stopped at the Lakeside View Car Park on the south side of Kielder.

2nd Stop – Elf Kirk Viewpoint

This was a quick pit stop up to the viewpoint to enjoy the landscape of Kielder from a slightly different perspective. You also have the option of parking up here overnight for £10 (9pm – 9am), but this time we moved on. It seems like a very idyllic place to spend the night though, so we may come back another time to experience the dark skies from here.

3rd Stop – Kielder Waterside

This is a holiday resort, but you can also visit as just a ‘non-resident’. On our visit, it was a good chance for the kids to let off some energy in the playpark, and also a nice spot for lunch in the van. There is a shop here, as well as a restaurant.

4th Stop – Matthew’s Linn Car Park

Here it was time to pop on our walking boots for a little hike. As we drove past we saw a beautiful inlet of water and thought it looked like a great place to stretch our legs and explore, so we turned the van around and did just that. On the map we saw that there was a walking route to a mirage. We never did find the mirage, but even still, we did enjoy a great little walk with beautiful scenery. It sort of gave us ‘Canada’ vibes!

5th Stop – Kielder Castle Car Park

The final stop on our driving route and where we spent the night. It’s so great that places are starting to allow motorhome/campervan parking overnight. It’s something that is so common on mainland Europe, especially Germany, but for some reason the UK are only just starting to introduce these spots. The castle is currently undergoing renovations, but from here there are a number of walking trails through Kielder Forest, including the Gruffalo Trail. There is also a Minotaur maze for the kids as well as a pub within walking distance. A win win!