Discover Kielder Forest: An Adventure for You and Your Dog

Forest Walkies with Forestry England

There’s just something special about woodland trails, and honestly, they’re a refreshing break from our usual beach strolls. Recently, while scrolling through Instagram, I stumbled upon Forestry England’s ‘dog-friendly’ trails made just for us dog owners. I was intrigued, so I headed over to their website to find out more!

After a bit of research I found that these designated trails are fun and interactive – perfect if you are training you pooch or maybe have a reactive dog! So with a spare Saturday, we headed to Kielder Forest in Northumberland to try one out.

We parked at Kielder Castle, where parking charges apply at £2 an hour or £5 for the full day which is really reasonable. Post code NE48 1ER. Once parked up if you head down to the Castle as this is where the ‘Forest walkies’ trail begins.

At the visitor centre, you can purchase an activity pack for just £5, which comes with a tote bag, a bandana for your pup, and a pencil with a fun activity leaflet to take along on the trail. We got there pretty early, so the centre wasn’t open. Guess we’ll have to grab one next time! When you’re all set, just follow the cool Wallace & Gromit Forest Walkies signs and the green arrows.

The trail you’re on is the Duchess trail, named after the second Duchess of Northumberland, who used to travel around this estate in her horse and carriage. You even walk over the same old packhorse bridge she used 200 years ago—amazing! It feels very magical! The trail is a moderate stroll and about 3km long. We completed it in just over an hour. It’s really well marked, plus there are loads of interesting spots for your pup to check out. Just a heads up, the ground can get muddy and a bit uneven, so make sure you wear some solid walking boots! The trail is safe for your dogs to roam off-lead if they’ve got good recall. No livestock around. We had fun crossing wooden bridges, winding along the paths, and jumping over tons of fallen trees—all great fun for the dogs!

Along the way look out for the interactive Wallace and Gromit signposts for you and your dog with challenges such as paw, heel and even hide and seek.

Overall, we think that the new Forest Walkies trails are an absolutely fantastic opportunity to explore the great outdoors with your dogs, and we are incredibly excited to discover even more! To find your nearest trail, click here.