Kielder Observatory

Kielder Observatory is located in one of a limited number of dark zones in Europe. These are ares where light from buildings is limited at night to minimise light pollution. The observatory is located atop a hill in the extensive Kielder forest and is accessed via a gravel and pitted road that is wide enough for just one vehicle. The observatory is funded by charitable donations and is run by a small team of staff with varying backgrounds in astronomy, solely for the public. The daily program runs from 9pm to about 12pm. There are video presentations that are very professionally prepared and are both entertaining and packed with cosmological information. Each is about half an hour long, informal and interactive. There are two telescopes that can be directed to any object and are computer controlled. Everyone gets to view the celestial body most suited to being viewed at that time through the telescope with the guidance of a staff member. Cloudy skies would make live demonstrations problematical but with several hours and the whole of the night sky available to star gaze there will always be something to see. It is a brilliant experience for everyone from children to grown ups.

Absolutely superb! Well worth a visit - a fabulous facility in an amazing location. All the staff and presenters are enthusiastic, very knowledgeable and make everything interesting, awe inspiring and entertaining. Highly recommended, and we will definitely book again for another session.

We chose the late night experience, which started at 11pm with a welcome and a short presentation. We were then split into 3 groups of 10, and our group went out onto the deck first. This was lucky, as for the first hour, we had completely clear skies. Our guide had lots of information, and because of the nearly full moon, we looked at the craters of the Moon through the telescope. We also had a good look at the stripes on Jupiter and its moons. Our guide was happy to answer questions and name the constellations above, and he helped us to take photos using the telescope and our own phones. The next rotation for us was a welcome hot chocolate; it was -2°c and despite warm clothes, our feet were freezing. This was followed by a demonstration and a look through a more powerful telescope. Our last rotation was in the rotating turret, this time led by a lovely, enthusiastic astrophysicist. All the guides were very knowledgeable, but they kept the information they shared at an appropriate level for amateurs.One extra highlight for us was being able to say that we'd stood on Mars (we stood on a piece of a meteorite that is thought to have come from Mars!)This is a fantastic experience and the second time we have visited the observatory; the first time several years ago we had bad weather and we had a lecture instead of looking through the telescopes. It really is a lottery.

We had an absolutely amazing experience this evening. So so lucky to get a clear night. And the aura was an added bonus. Adam and his team were so knowledgeable and their passion for space, planets, stars and all the other amazing things they showed us was infectious. I had spent all week checking the weather forecast hoping for a clear night. It did NOT disappoint us. Definitely be back for another session. Thank you

Excellent!!!Proper geek mode I was inYou can see the northern lights from there!Great staff with fountains of knowledge and know howWonderful powerful telescopesUnfortunately after a 3 hour tour and educating talk the skies were cloudy and I got to see completely nothing!!ggrrrrrrBut I did get to stand on a piece of Martian rock so I get to say I've stood on Mars which I literally did!!!!Telescope views of the milkywsy available if clear weather presents itself but....Hot drinks served for free with any ticket boughtGreat products on sale.Rare meteorites etcWonderful experience which I highly recommended you do if you get the chanceSituated in the heart of keldler forest the uks biggest man-made forest with views to are inspire touI'm returning next year to hopefully see ... something next timeBrilliant family day out it really isGo try it and hopefully see for yourselves

Had an amazing evening here in the heart of kielder forest under the dark Northumbrian skies. The mixed group were split into three so we could all enjoy the 2 telescopes and the mobile outside one. We had a fascinating film presentation of the Aurora Borialis and some great photo,s of the moon taken through the telescope onto our smart phones.

A must visit for astro enthusiasts!Tickets - Book well in advance, the best ones are sold out quickly (e.g. shows that are close to a meteor shower or late night from 12-3am)Getting there - We drove down from Edinburgh and it takes about 2-3 hours each way. Stunning landscapes along the way and some beautiful forest roads leading up to the mountain where this observatory is located. The path becomes narrower as you go up but fairly comfortable.The Observatory Experience - They have regular shows based on different themes followed by a tour of the place and some free time. The content is great, it’s also beginner friendly. The people who work here are warm and a pleasure to talk to. They have some nice meteorite samples, a wide range of telescopes, and merch you can buy at the end.Weather - This is the variable with highest impact on your overall experience given that it’s usually cloudy or raining making live observations impossible. However, the experience is worth it no matter the weather conditions.The journey is the reward, the hot chocolate is the cherry on top and if you have nice weather consider yourself blessed!

We went to Space Kids - rockets and more recently and it was absolutely fantastic. My husband and I enjoyed it along with our son, who came out smiling and inspired. The whole event was fabulous and there was a good mix of talking and doing if that makes sense. The team were approachable, chatty and talented. The observatory and surroundings are beautiful too. Highly recommended!

We got very lucky on our trip that the skies were partly clear! I was so sad thinking we would miss it as that day was overcast, I had been wanting to go for a long time, and we managed to get a good hour of star gazing.The team here really made the experience, they are all very knowledgeable, very accommodating and have a great sense of humour. Thanks for a great experience!