Kielder Backpacking Sites 2014

Terms and conditions of use

1. To avoid clashes users should inform the Forestry Commission that they intend to use a site at least 3 days in advance (phone 01434 220242 or email kieldercastle@forestry.gov.uk)

2. Users are advised to inform the car park’s owners if they are intending to leave a vehicle overnight to avoid concerns over abandoned vehicles (phone 01434 220242 for Forestry Commission car parks or 01434 251000 for Northumbrian Water)

3. In the Forestry Commission car parks, the full car park charge applies for each part day the vehicle is left, please purchase and display the required number of tickets on the day of arrival

4. The use of the backpacking sites is free

5. The sites are natural sites and are not staffed. If you are concerned about a site do not use it and inform the Forestry Commission of your concerns as soon as possible.

6. The sites are open all year. Users need to check weather conditions before arrival in order to assess the accessibility and safe condition of the site

7. The sites themselves are not accessible by vehicle. Access is on foot, by bike or on horse back. All of Kielder Forest is open access on foot and all forest roads are open to horse riders and cyclists.

8. Sites and access routes may be closed from time to time due to Forestry Operations or for other reasons. Please check details when enquiring about using a site.

9. When in Kielder Forest please observe all signage and comply with instructions from members of staff at all times

10.There are no facilities at the sites. Toilet holes need to be dug away from the site and from water courses and filled in before leaving.

11.There is open water near the sites, but users must bring their own drinking water or equipment for boiling or purify water for drinking

12.Please leave the sites as you would like to find them, always take your litter home

13.Sites are marked with a red and white post

14.Always respect other visitors, wildlife, domestic animals, the landscape and the environment and follow the countryside code

1 East Kielder2 Needs Hill3 Plashetts4 Belling5 Corby Jacks6 Ridley Shiel7 Slaty Ford8 Allerybank9 The D Field Smales10 Seven Linns11 Scotch Knowe12 Geordy’s Knowe

1 East Kielder NY 657 956

Small level site (approximately 10 x 7 mtrs) situated in open ground above the Ridge End Burn with lovely views down the valley. Please respect the animals on the nearby farm land. There is no parking along the Forest Drive or on the farmland.Fishing is permitted on the nearby Kielder Burn 1 km down stream. To get a fishing permit visit www.fishpal.com/England/Tyne/KielderBurn/ or phone 01573 470612

2 Needs Hill NY 657 904

Large site (core approximately 10 x 20 mtrs), in open forest on a peninsula in Kielder Water near the Lakeside Way. Please note that access may be flooded when water levels are exceptionally high. For details of fishing on Kielder Water see www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/leisure/kielder-reservoir.aspxor phone 01434 251000

3 Plashetts NY 665 906

Area of cut grass (approximately 10 x 7 mtrs) next to the Janus Chairs art work on small peninsula in Kielder Water next to the Lakeside Way spur path.For details of fishing on Kielder Water see www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/leisure/kielder-reservoir.aspxor phone 01434 251000

4 Belling NY 691 899

Area of cut grass (approximately 15 x 6 mtrs), in otherwise overgrown ground near the North Haul ‘road’ with views over Kielder Water a short distance from the Lakeside Way.For details of fishing on Kielder Water see www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/leisure/kielder-reservoir.aspx or phone 01434 251000

5 Corby Jacks NY 758 912

Large site (core approximately 15 x 20 mtrs) on open near a stream. Rough ground which can be wet.

6 Ridley Shiel NY 780 918

Small site (approximately 5 x 6 mtrs) at the edge of the Forest near a small stream. Rough grass, but relatively dry ground.

7 Slaty Ford NY 761 874

Small site (approximately 7x8 mtrs usable area), of rough grass in otherwise overgrown area.

8 Allerybank NY 747 814

Small site (approximately 7x8mtrs usable area), with relatively short grass and drier ground in an otherwise very wet field. A small distance downstream from Jerry Linn’s waterfall (follow the old track to a view point overlooking the water fall).

9 The D Field Smales NY 719 850

Usable area approximately 10x10 mtrs in a faily damp ‘D’ shaped field surrounded on three sides by the Smales Burn.

10 Seven Linns NY 687 802

Small site with a usable area of approximately 7x3 mtrs of rough grass in heather. Relatively dry and usable during wet conditions.Immediately next to the spectacular Seven Linns gorge. Access to this site can be very waterlogged at times.

11 Scotch Knowe NY 562 884

Sheltered, medium sized site (approximately 7x8 mtrs), of reasonably dry ground in the bend of a river. Situated where the boundaries of Northumberland, Cumbria and the Scottish Borders meet near the Cross Border walking, cycling and horse riding trail.

12 Geordy’s Knowe NY 628 878

Large site (core approximately 25 x 15 mtrs), in a large open field next to ruined buildings above a bend of the Lewisburn. Fishing is permitted on the Lewisburn, to get a fishing permit visit www.fishpal.com/England/Tyne/Lewisburnor phone 01573 470612