From The Northumbrian Almanac
What's on in Kielder and the North Tyne
Events in Kielder and the North Tyne over the next few weeks: family days out, talks, gigs, walks and shows, each checked against the organiser's page. Part of The Northumbrian Almanac, updated weekly.
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Checked 30 September 2026. Every event links to the organiser, where you can book. Times and prices change, so check before you set off.
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
Thursday 8 October 2026
Shooting Star Supper: Draconids meteor shower
21:00 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £27.50 adults, £24.50 concessions, £75.50 family of four
Soup and sandwiches in the Battlesteads restaurant, then the observatory to learn where shooting stars come from, handle meteorites and watch for the Draconids. Indoor activities run if it is cloudy. Organiser
Saturday 10 October 2026
Willow birdfeeders workshop
10:00 Wark Town Hall and Mechanics Institute, Wark · £35
A three-hour willow workshop in which you weave two birdfeeders to take home. Places are limited. Organiser
Stargazing for Kids
18:30 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £22.50 adults, £19.50 concessions, £55.50 family (2 adults, 2 children)
A two-hour family session learning to find constellations, planets and the Moon's phases, with telescopes, binoculars, real space rocks from the Moon and Mars, and free hot drinks. Children take home activity sheets. Organiser
Sunday 11 October 2026
The Goatstones guided walk
10:30 Simonburn Village Car Park, Simonburn · Under 16s free with a paying adult
An eight mile National Park ranger walk from Simonburn to the Goatstones prehistoric stone circle, with views over the North Tyne and some navigation practice on open moor. Bring a packed lunch. Organiser
Astrophotography evening
20:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £39 adults, £33 concessions
A talk on photographing the Milky Way, aurora and star trails, then practical shooting under the dark sky if the weather allows. Bring a camera with a wide-angle lens and a tripod; phones can be used too. Organiser
Wednesday 14 October 2026
Space Kids: Searching for Aliens
17:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 concessions, family ticket £72 (4 people)
A family session asking whether there is life out there and how scientists might find it, with space rocks to look at and the telescopes pointed at the Moon, planets and stars when the sky allows. Organiser
Friday 16 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
Aurora Night (early evening)
19:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder
The 7pm version of the observatory's northern lights evening: a talk on the science of aurora, then observing if the sky is clear. Organiser
Saturday 17 October 2026
Space Kids: Searching for Stars
16:30 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 under 16s, £72 family (2 adults, 2 children)
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 finishes in time for tea, and everyone needs a ticket. Organiser
Sunday 18 October 2026
Space Kids: Searching for Aliens
17:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 concessions, family ticket £72 (4 people)
A family session asking whether there is life out there and how scientists might find it, with space rocks to look at and the telescopes pointed at the Moon, planets and stars when the sky allows. Organiser
Monday 19 October 2026
The Dark Cosmos
20:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder
A specialist evening on dark matter, dark energy and the questions cosmology has not yet answered, with telescope observing if the sky is clear and hot drinks included. Organiser
Wednesday 21 October 2026
Shooting Star Supper: Orionids meteor shower
21:00 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £27.50 adults, £24.50 concessions, £75.50 family of four
Soup and sandwiches in the Battlesteads restaurant, then the observatory to learn where shooting stars come from, handle meteorites and watch for the Orionids. Indoor activities run if it is cloudy. Organiser
Saturday 24 October 2026
Chiller 24 hour mountain bike race
10:00 Kielder Campsite, Kielder · Entry: solo £90, pairs £140, teams of four £200
A 24 hour cross-country mountain bike race on the Kielder trails, ridden solo, in pairs or in teams of four, from 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday with teams camped trackside. Organiser
Space Kids: Searching for Aliens
16:30 Kielder Observatory, Kielder
A family session asking whether there is life out there and how scientists might find it, with space rocks to look at and the telescopes pointed at the Moon, planets and stars when the sky allows. Organiser
Stargazing for Kids
19:00 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £22.50 adults, £19.50 concessions, £55.50 family (2 adults, 2 children)
A two-hour family session learning to find constellations, planets and the Moon's phases, with telescopes, binoculars, real space rocks from the Moon and Mars, and free hot drinks. Children take home activity sheets. Organiser
Royal Northern Sinfonia: Out and About
19:30 Wark Town Hall and Mechanics Institute, Wark · £15 standard, £10 concession
A woodwind quintet from the Royal Northern Sinfonia plays classical and folk-inspired chamber music in the village hall. Organiser
Sunday 25 October 2026
Our Moon
20:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder
An evening devoted to the Moon, with craters and mountains through the big telescopes and a chance to photograph it on your phone. If it is cloudy the team use their radio telescope instead. Organiser
Monday 26 October 2026
Space Kids: Searching for Stars
17:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 under 16s, £72 family (2 adults, 2 children)
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 finishes in time for tea, and everyone needs a ticket. Organiser
Wednesday 28 October 2026
Space Kids: Searching for Aliens
17:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder
A family session asking whether there is life out there and how scientists might find it, with space rocks to look at and the telescopes pointed at the Moon, planets and stars when the sky allows. Organiser
Friday 30 October 2026
Stargazing for Kids
18:30 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £22.50 adults, £19.50 concessions, £55.50 family (2 adults, 2 children)
A two-hour family session learning to find constellations, planets and the Moon's phases, with telescopes, binoculars, real space rocks from the Moon and Mars, and free hot drinks. Children take home activity sheets. Organiser
Saturday 31 October 2026
Space Kids: Searching for Stars
16:30 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 under 16s, £72 family (2 adults, 2 children)
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 finishes in time for tea, and everyone needs a ticket. Organiser
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
The Dark Cosmos
21:00 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £22.50 adults, £19.50 concessions, £55.50 family (2 adults, 2 children)
The story of the universe from the Big Bang to today's galaxies, with an explanation of dark matter and dark energy, then observing with the 14-inch telescope and binoculars if the sky is clear. Organiser
Friday 6 November 2026
Stargazing for Kids
18:30 Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory, Wark · £22.50 adults, £19.50 concessions, £55.50 family (2 adults, 2 children)
A two-hour family session learning to find constellations, planets and the Moon's phases, with telescopes, binoculars, real space rocks from the Moon and Mars, and free hot drinks. Children take home activity sheets. Organiser
Saturday 7 November 2026
Space Kids: Searching for Aliens
16:30 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 concessions, family ticket £72 (4 people)
A family session asking whether there is life out there and how scientists might find it, with space rocks to look at and the telescopes pointed at the Moon, planets and stars when the sky allows. Organiser
Sunday 8 November 2026
Space Kids: Searching for Stars
17:00 Kielder Observatory, Kielder · £25 adults, £15 under 16s, £72 family (2 adults, 2 children)
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 finishes in time for tea, and everyone needs a ticket. Organiser
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