Things to do in Kielder and the North Tyne

Kielder Water and Forest Park, the North Tyne valley and the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, with Bellingham the main village on the way in. Main places: Kielder, Bellingham, Falstone, Wark and Otterburn.

Towns and places12 min↗

Things to Do in Northumberland With Kids: Where to Start

Seasons10 min↗

Santa in Northumberland 2026: Trains, Grottos and What They Cost

Rainy days10 min↗

Rainy Day Things to Do in Northumberland (That Aren't Soft Play)

Seasons12 min↗

October Half Term in Northumberland 2026: What's On and What's Shut

For grown-ups11 min↗

Northumberland With a Dog: Beaches, Castles, Walks and Pubs

Seasons11 min↗

Northumberland in Winter 2026/27: What's Open, What's Shut, What to Do

Stargazing11 min↗

Kielder Observatory: Is It Worth It, and What If It's Sold Out?

Seasons11 min↗

Halloween in Northumberland 2026: Pumpkin Patches and Spooky Trails

Towns and places11 min↗

Getting Around Northumberland: Parking, Trains and Buses

Seasons11 min↗

Christmas Markets and Lights in Northumberland 2026: Dates and Parking

Seasons10 min↗

Bonfire Night in Northumberland 2026: Fireworks Displays by Town

Beaches and coast11 min↗

Best Beaches in Northumberland: Loos, Lifeguards and Dogs

Castles and history11 min↗

Alnwick Castle or Bamburgh Castle? Which to Pick With Kids

What is on in Kielder and the North Tyne soon

Friday 2 October 2026

• Ready-Set-Rocket! for kids

  18:30 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £22.50 adults, £19.50 concessions, £55.50 family (2 adults, 2 children)

  Children build, decorate and launch their own water-powered rockets and learn how thrust and stability work. Each child needs to bring an empty fizzy drink or sparkling water bottle. Organiser

Saturday 3 October 2026

• Kielder Marathon Weekend

  Kielder Waterside, Kielder

  The off-road marathon weekend around Kielder Water, with shorter races alongside the full marathon. Spectators can cheer runners from the waterside. Organiser

• Altra Kielder 10K

  13:00 Kielder Water (Bull Crag peninsula), Kielder

  The Saturday 10K of the Kielder Marathon weekend, run on the Bull Crag peninsula beside Kielder Water. Shuttles run from the car park from 10.30am and you need to finish inside 2.5 hours. Organiser

• Kielder 10K and Gravel Duathlon

  13:00 Kielder Water, Kielder

  The Saturday of the Kielder Marathon weekend: a 10K trail race round the Bull Crag peninsula, and an off-road duathlon of 10km run, 34km ride and 6.4km run on gravel or mountain bikes. Allow plenty of time for the car park shuttles. Organiser

• Visit the Last Black House of Catcleugh

  13:30 Catcleugh Reservoir entrance, Byrness · Pay on arrival

  An easy one mile guided visit to the last surviving hut built for the Victorian navvies who dug Catcleugh Reservoir, with period objects inside. No dogs; the gate opens 30 minutes before the start. Organiser

• Space Kids: Searching for Stars

  16:30 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 per person (sold out when we checked on 29 September; check for returns)

  An early-evening session for children: a short talk, making constellations the way the ancient Greeks did, then a tour of the observatory and the telescopes. It was sold out when we checked, so look for returns or a later date. Organiser

Sunday 4 October 2026

• Kielder Marathon and Half Marathon

  10:15 Kielder Water, Kielder · Spectator pass £5 per day

  The full marathon runs the whole way round Kielder Water on trails and forest roads, with the half marathon starting at the dam. Supporters can watch from Kielder Waterside with a spectator pass. Organiser

• Kielder Marathon junior races

  10:45 Kielder Waterside, Kielder

  Short races for children on marathon day, run within the Kielder Waterside park: the 1.5km Osprey run for 6 to 10 year olds and the 2.5km Falcon run for 11 to 14 year olds. Organiser

Everything on in Kielder and the North Tyne