Riverside glamping in Kielder Forest

Expect camping trips filled with wildlife watching, woodland walks, and water sports.

100% (19 reviews)

United Kingdom
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England
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Kielder Forest

100% (19 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Kielder Forest

Community favorites in and near Kielder Forest

Stories from the community

Tom

2 weeks ago

With kids

Weekend Trip to The Black Swan

Great experience, lovely comfortable Yurt and super close to the Pub for luxury. Great combo! Plus we saw red squirrels in the ground! The kids loved this trip.

Weekend Trip to Camping at Cardewlees

Really friendly greeting from the owner and the pitch was excellent.

Emily

February 2025

Weekend Trip to Deerstone Glamping

Me and my boyfriend spent two beautiful nights here in the domes. Katrin is simply wonderful super helpful and just a phone call away if you need anything. The dome was just perfect, beautifully clean and came with everything you could need to make the weekend perfect. The cinema dome was fantastic we used it two nights. The showers and toilets were so clean and had shampoo conditioner shower gel toothpaste and deodorant. The heater in the shower was perfect for the cold mornings. The hot tub was fantastic super clean and got really hot, we struggled the second night to get the fire going for the hot tub but with just a text message to katrin she was there sorting it for us with her beautiful little dog woody who came to say hello. There were two heaters inside the dome to keep you warm, also in the chest at the bottom of the bed there were cups, cutlery, mini table, fire starter, pans, bbq utensils, and much more to make your stay homely. The breathtaking views from the domes are just magnificent. 100% will be returning to the site with the kids and the dog. We can’t wait to come back. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

9 top river, stream, or creek glamping sites in Kielder Forest

100%

(16)

Deerstone Glamping

6 units · Glamping82 acres · Lancashire, North West England

Geodesic domes with a sauna and a dome cinema on site in the Lancashire countryside

78%

(29)

West Highland Way Hotel & Campsite

46 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents10 acres · Glasgow, Lanarkshire, South Scotland

A welcoming campsite on the West Highland Way

88%

(25)

Culdees Castle Estate Glamping

5 units · Glamping, Motorhomes17 acres · Perthshire , Scotland

Luxury woodland cabins, each with a private hot tub, in the grounds of a Scottish castle

99%

(38)

Camping at Cardewlees

37 units · Glamping, Motorhomes, Tents1 acre · Carlisle, England

A welcoming, family-run farm campsite between the Lake District and Hadrian's Wall

100%

(8)

Cleghorn Farm

15 units · Glamping, Tents250 acres · Lanark, Scotland

*PLEASE NOTE THE CABIN IS AVAILABLE FOR MIDWEEK AND WEEKEND BOOKINGS. CAMPING IS ONLY AVAILABLE AT WEEKENDS. WE REQUIRE AT LEAST 48 HOURS NOTICE FOR CABIN BOOKINGS* Cleghorn Farm is a mixed farm just north east of the market town of Lanark. Comprised of 250 acres of fields and woodland and bounded to the south by Mouse Water, it is a beautiful spot to get away from it all without having to leave it all behind if you don't want to. The fields are grazed and cultivated but the woodlands are much as they were at the end of the last ice age with spectacular walks along Cleghorn Glen with the chance to see badgers, bats, deer and all manner of birds among the towering pine and beech trees. The Mouse Water (pronounced moose) tumbles down along the edge of the farm and has some glorious pools for swimming, shallows for paddling and some spectacular water falls before it joins the River Clyde.

Booked 1 time

King Garth

1 unit · Glamping2 acres · Carlisle, England

Built in 1733, King Garth is also known as The Old Customs House, reflecting its role in these fraught times of smuggling. Its strategic position on the banks of The Eden served as the perfect lookout for a bailiff employed by Carlisle Corporation to protect the very important salmon fishery. The plaques on the building which commemorate the visits by Mayors date back to the 1700s. These visits no doubt involved indulgent banquets centring around freshly caught salmon I grew up on the opposite side of the river. On family walks along the Eden I was always fascinated by the house on the other side sited in such an amazing position. In 2010, when I returned to Cumbria I was amazed to hear that this house was for sale. It was a ruin and everyone told me I was mad..... I probably was a little! But I soon realised that I wasn’t alone in my love of this house, everyone I met from the surrounding villages had a tale to tell about this iconic place. King Garth is for sharing - with locals, (we have an annual barbecue), with wildlife and with people like you. The aim when renovating King Garth was to celebrate and embrace its history. King Garth is off grid and has no running water. It is furnished in a style to reflect its history. It isn’t everyone’s ‘cup of tea’: you have to drive a mile down a muddy lane, there is no hot shower, no electric lighting, and a compost toilet. BUT we offer beautiful evenings of candle light, log burner, hot tub under the stars and bathing in the river. My priority with King Garth and the land attached was to manage in a way to protect the abundant wildlife. There are also alpacas who you can look after during your stay. You will be astounded by the din the birds make at dawn and dusk! Inside the house there is an owl box where one summer a pair of barn owls successfully raised chicks. Since then a kestrel frequents the box and has twice laid there. This part of the Eden is tidal so both estuarine and river species co exist. Kingfishers and otters are often spotted And even the occasional seal! Kinggarth comes with fishing rights and if you want to fish this can be arranged with the host. The bird feeders are frequented by tree sparrows, yellow hammers, wood peckers, nut hatches and in winter red poll.

100%

(22)

The Black Swan

3 units · Glamping1 acre · Kirkby Stephen, England

Our three, brand new wood and canvas yurts are nestled in our private, woodland hotel garden beside the beautiful conservation (SSSI) river of Scandal Beck. Just a short drive from The Lake District, The Yorkshire and Durham Dales as well as The Scottish Border, we are perfectly located for you to explore. The yurts themselves are individually decorated with full size furniture, electricity and double beds. The yurts are all located in the garden of The Black Swan Hotel, Ravenstonedale, a multi award-winning hotel, restaurant and bar; recipient of 2 AA Rosettes as well as AA pub of the year for England 2018/19. As part of your stay in our yurts you will receive a full cooked breakfast and buffet option included in the price for 2 people in our hotel restaurant. We like to think of ourselves as a cosy home from home with a relaxed dining atmosphere throughout. We are very dog friendly in the hotel, restaurant, bar and yurts so please bring your furry family members. Our beautiful woodland is also home to red squirrels (which are seen daily), protected, freshwater crayfish in the river, an otter (seen very infrequently but the nemesis of our ducks), 6 Indian runner ducks, free range chickens and our two cockerels! (Dogs are very welcome but are to be kept on a lead whilst in the woodland itself). We are very dog friendly and charge an additional fee of £15 for 1 dog/ £20 for 2 dogs for an additional cleaning fee and for some dog friendly goodies such as poop bags and treats. The price of this yurt is based on an occupancy of 2 people. Any other people who will be staying on the sofa bed will add a charge of £40 per person per night for breakfast and their stay. All yurts come with electrical battery pack, chargeable lanterns, tea/coffee, homemade biscuits, log burning stoves, towels, full breakfast included from the hotel, an outdoor seating area and access to our outdoor toasty warm woodland shower as well as our very cute, wooden toilet cabin. Hairdryers are available in the hotel for your use.

100%

(2)

Ayrshire Airstream

1 unit · Glamping5 acres · Irvine, Scotland

A seriously comfortable 1978 Airstream, complete with a hot tub, fire pit and its own bar.

100%

(9)

Inside Out Yurts

3 units · Glamping1 acre · Keswick, Cumbria, North West England

Rustic yurt glamping with a riverside setting, fell views and an enviable Lake District location

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

Riverside glamping in Kielder Forest guide

Overview

With 250 square miles of forest and the largest manmade lake in northern Europe, Kielder Water and Forest Park is a one-stop destination for wildlife watching, woodland walks, and water sports. Explore miles of trails on foot, by bike, or on horseback, including the 27-mile Lakeside Way. Visit attractions such as Kielder Castle and the Birds of Prey Centre, cruise around Kielder Water, or take to the water to canoe, fish, or stand-up paddleboard. Campers can stay by the riverside or in Kielder village, and an overnight stay comes with stargazing opportunities—this is also an International Dark Sky Reserve.

When to go

Outdoor activities are fun year-round at Kielder Water, but campsites within the forest park are open from March through October only. Come in the spring and summer months for lake cruises and water sports, in autumn to admire the fall foliage, or during the festive season to visit the Kielder Winter Wonderland. Popular events throughout the year include the Kielder Marathon (October), a 24-hour mountain bike race (February), and a Night Run (March).

Know before you go

Kielder Water and Forest Park is in Northumberland, 30 miles northwest of Hexham. There is no public transport to the park. Parking is available at Hawkhope, Kielder Dam South Abutment, Tower Knowe, Kielder Waterside, Matthew’s Linn, Bakethin Nature Reserve, Kielder Castle, Skyspace lower car park, and Elf Kirk. A single parking ticket is valid all day at any of the car parks.
Facilities within the park include a gas station (card payment only) at Kielder village, two cafés, a restaurant, and restrooms. Download the free Kielder visitor map to your phone to help navigate.
There are overnight parking spots for self-sufficient campers at Kielder Castle car park, Anglers Arms rear car park in Kielder village, Elf Kirk View Point, and Tower Knowe car park. Fees apply.
Midges are common in the park from March through September, so bring insect repellent. The weather can change quickly in northern England, so it’s a good idea to pack a raincoat even in summer.
There are wheelchair-accessible facilities at Kielder Water and some accessible trails.