Northumberland Water Farce

kimndon

kimndon

Joined
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Hapton, Burnley
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Since 2007
We started our Northumberland 250 at Derwent Water car park. Overnight parking £10 - brilliant. Ranger came over about 9pm. Checked that we had paid and spoke with us. He explained that the gate close and open again at 8 am. Wonderful night spent.
To end our tour we decided to park on the Hawkhope carpark on Kielder Water. So arriving early afternoon we paid the £5 all day fee and about 6.30 £10 for the night. 8.30 a Ranger came and we expected the same altercation as Derwent. Not at all!!
You are not allowed to stay anywhere overnight on Kielder. We pointed out the signage etc.. But no doing - we where moved on at 9pm. To find another spot for the night. He was very kind but basically a jobs worth. We were the only motorhome on the large carpark. Could he not make an exception this once - no there is CCTV on all carparks.
So he moved us on. This spoilt our whole tour. Northumberland Water need to get it's Leisure parking Sorted. I couldn't find any easy email address to complain. What a total waste of a commercial leisure asset.

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What you have got to remember this is the same as the nc500, it's a business, someone has put a route together, got a load of merchandise made and wants to make money, anybody could flog a road trip, it dosnt mean there is the infrastructure in place.
Just get a map and come up with your own route and stops and enjoy.
 
So looked online - you can stay until 3am for stargazing - no mention of overnighting.
They suggest Tower Knowe for overnight.

Perhaps you misunderstood.

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Only a short hop from Kielder to the Scottish border where things are a bit more relaxed.
 
Tower Knowe has no overnighting at the moment, was there about 4 hrs ago, signs taped up no overnight stays , not sure if this is temporary or they are waiting for more permanent signs. Had planned to stay here in August for some Milky Way photography, now had to book onto kielder campsite.
 
If signage says overnight parking is £10, and you can pay at machine, how can they move you on? Only issue is whether sleeping in a vehicle becomes more than parking.
 
There does seem to be some mixed messaging, website still says overnighting at extra charge but definitely a sign up at Tower Knowe this afternoon. I joined the scheme whereby you get free daytime parking for the year, so I'm on their mailing list and nothing sent to me notifying a change in policy.
 

Frequently Asked Questions​



How much does it cost to park in Kielder Water & Forest Park?

All day parking costs £5 per vehicle (up until 3am to allow visitiors to stargaze under the darkest skies in Europe), which is transferable to all the car parks listed below:

Hawkhope, Kielder Dam South Abutment, Tower Knowe, Kielder Waterside, Matthew's Linn, Bakethin Nature Reserve, Kielder Castle, Skyspacelower car park and Elf Kirk.

All of these car parks, with the exception of Kielder Castle, Lower Skyspace and Elf Kirk can be paid in advance at -Broken Link Removed-

Alterantively, if you park for one hour or under the charge is £2.00

Monies raised from car parking fees are vital for the upkeep of the facilities within the park, whihc includes public toilets, play areas, visitor centres, the lakesdie way, MTB trails, art works and much more.

Overnight parking

Forestry England & Northumbrian Water has approved overnight parking to responsible campervans in the following car parks - Kielder Castle car park, Anglers Arms rear car park in Kielder village, and the iconic Elf Kirk View Point.

FEE £10 to be paid at Kielder Castle Car Park (ticket machine can take coins or card payment) The overnight parking is for vehicles only used for camping, NO use of tents permitted. We encourage campers to use the formal campsites in Kielder. We expect users to take all their refuse home and no open fires are permitted.

The car parks will be checked at random and campers will be expected to have paid.


Can I camp in the forest?

Camping is only allowed at Kielder campsite.

Do I need a permit to horse ride in the forest?

As an individual, you do not need a permit to horse ride in the Park.

What time does the Park close?

Never! Access on foot is permitted 24 hours a day. The car parks are always open and while the visitor centres do have opening hours, you may access the forest on foot any time.
 
Last edited:
kimndon said:
We started our Northumberland 250 at Derwent Water car park. Overnight parking £10 - brilliant. Ranger came over about 9pm. Checked that we had paid and spoke with us. He explained that the gate close and open again at 8 am. Wonderful night spent.
To end our tour we decided to park on the Hawkhope carpark on Kielder Water. So arriving early afternoon we paid the £5 all day fee and about 6.30 £10 for the night. 8.30 a Ranger came and we expected the same altercation as Derwent. Not at all!!
You are not allowed to stay anywhere overnight on Kielder. We pointed out the signage etc.. But no doing - we where moved on at 9pm. To find another spot for the night. He was very kind but basically a jobs worth. We were the only motorhome on the large carpark. Could he not make an exception this once - no there is CCTV on all carparks.
So he moved us on. This spoilt our whole tour. Northumberland Water need to get it's Leisure parking Sorted. I couldn't find any easy email address to complain. What a total waste of a commercial leisure asset.

View attachment 767657
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When we were there last year every carpark had signs saying staying over night was temporarily suspended.
 
Why not buy your Kielder Water & Forest Park membership online now, and enjoy visiting the forest straight away? Visit https://www.forestryengland.uk/kielder-water-and-forest-park/kielder-water-forest-park-membership
Your annual membership costs just £40.
Each membership includes one parking permit, however you are welcome to share it between two registered cars. We also have plastic permit holders available, available on request, which will ensure that the pass does not get damaged during the transfer between vehicles.

* Please note, as Kielder Winter Wonderland is an exclusive ticket only event, members will be unable to park at Kielder Waterside on the days when the event is taking place - unless they have purchased tickets for the event. However, access to free parking is available elsewhere in the Park. Kielder Winter Wonderland takes place in November and December. 2021 dates will be announced later in the year.

* Please also note that free parking is only applicable to day time parking and does not include the overnight campervan parking facility at Kielder Castle, Elf Kirk and Tower Knowe, which is subject to a separate charge

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We have stayed at the Kielder Castle site previously, and there's a pub at the bottom if the hill 😀
 
Kannon Fodda said:
If signage says overnight parking is £10, and you can pay at machine, how can they move you on? Only issue is whether sleeping in a vehicle becomes more than parking.
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Not just sleeping. As soon as the vehicle is used for the purposes of human habitation it becomes subject to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act and is not merely parked.
It is a pity that Northumbrian Water (and other organisations) do not differentiate between the two properly in their documentation.
 
GJH said:
Not just sleeping. As soon as the vehicle is used for the purposes of human habitation it becomes subject to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act and is not merely parked.
It is a pity that Northumbrian Water (and other organisations) do not differentiate between the two properly in their documentation.
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which is fine, but to be moved on when "stargazing" is allowed till 3am, and the OP clearly wasnt sleeping at 8:30 pm, how is it enforced
 
Tombola said:
which is fine, but to be moved on when "stargazing" is allowed till 3am, and the OP clearly wasnt sleeping at 8:30 pm, how is it enforced
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Presumably by random checks as per a previous post - and by people not camping where it isn't allowed in the first place.
 
Latest kielder newsletter, overnighting allowed in 3 car parks, £10 a night. Kielder Castle (big one at the north end) skyspace (not for the faint hearted, steep narrow single track gravel) and elf kirk, (single track again but short drive).

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Kielder is local to us, but we always prefer to go to the coast for quick overnights out so have never used it, but it's still stated on kielder own website that overnight stays are allowed

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And this is Northumbria water webpage, from which you should be able to email to complain

www.watersideparksuk.com

Waterside Parks | Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Welcome to Waterside Parks, home of adventure & family fun. Reconnect with yourself & your loved ones at one of our Waterside Parks. Start your adventure
www.watersideparksuk.com www.watersideparksuk.com
 
ctc said:
They don't want you so don't go. Come to France, it's a bit hot at the moment but I've never met a French jobsworth and the gendarmes patrol the campsites. Safe and cheap.
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Hooray for France but it isn’t an option for all of us. The answer to UK issues is not Go To France which has always done things differently. Some better and some not so great.
 
Jo May said:
Came across this back in March. Any help? View attachment 817191
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So they clearly make a distinction between 'campervans' and 'motorhomes' in the first paragraph. They then say further down, "Camping tents and 'campervan' awnings are not permitted..." Does that mean that 'motorhome' awnings are allowed? Someone needs to get their terminology sorted out.

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I would have told that Range that I am too exhausted from todays exertions and it would be dangerous for me to drive any further. He would be responsible if I had an accident.
 
steve69 said:
I would have told that Range that I am too exhausted from todays exertions and it would be dangerous for me to drive any further. He would be responsible if I had an accident.
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I don't think you can pass liability like that.
 

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