Storm Arwen recovery update
Kielder Water and Forest Park
On 26 November 2021, the north of England experienced significant northerly winds leading to storm damage which affected trees, buildings and other infrastructure. Storm Malik and storm Corrie over weekend 29/30 January 2022 has led to more trees falling over and slowing down the recovery process.
Forestry England’s first priority in the aftermath of the storm was to help the rural communities cut off from power such as in Kielder Forest, where staff worked with other agencies including the power company, to clear fallen and unstable trees from power lines, access roads and main paths.
Good progress continues on storm recovery work across Northumberland’s forests. We are still planning and implementing the safe and prompt removal of windblown trees across our forests and multiple sites, including our trails. The safe removal of windblown trees is a complex operation, requiring planning, machinery, and skilled operators.
Our teams are working as fast as they can, but in some areas the size and complexity of the damage and remote locations is still going to take months to fix.
Storm damaged trees can be unstable and dangerous. We need to make trees safe, within two tree-lengths of all our trails. Unfortunately, this means some facilities remain closed. We update this list frequently so that we can keep updates timely. Great progress is being made on opening formal access routes and we are now moving onto the larger areas with significant damage which takes time to work through.
We continue to ask that everyone stays on the main forest tracks and always adhere to all information/ warning signs and barriers.
The table below highlights what those trails and areas still closed or diverted, please check this list before travelling to Kielder Water and Forest Park.
Status of forest walks
Facility / route name | Open/Closed/Partially open | Updates |
Pennine Way (national trail) | Open diversion in place between The Sill and Stonehaugh | Forest diversion will be in place during February. Bellingham to Blakehopeburnhaugh fully open. |
Skyspace/ Kielder Observatory | Open with diversion using forest road. | Using forest road only- forest area walk followed will be closed for months possibly into 2023. |
Duchess Trail | Closed | Route now cleared- surfacing works to be carried out soon. |
Wild Trails (near Kielder Castle | Closed | A set of natural trails for walkers linking around the back of Kielder village- closed until further notice. |
Sidwood Bastle Trail | Closed | Will be closed for many months. |
Status of cycle trail and mountain bike facilities
Open/Closed/Partially open | Updates | |
Osprey Trail | Open with diversions | Mixture of trail and road until late summer. |
Lonesome Pine Trail | Closed | Skydive section ONLY open. |
Bloodybush Trail | Closed | Working to open during August. |
Cycle Skills Loop | Closed | Due to upgrading work required. |
Information on routes available to walk or cycle are available on the Visit Kielder website: www.visitkielder.com
Wider Northumberland forests
Forest Name | Open/Closed/Partially open | Updates |
Wooler Common | Forest walk and St Cuthberts Way northwards is open | Only rights of way southside is blocked |
Holystone | Ladywell path clear | Car park being repaired by 31/08 |
Harwood | Forestroads open | Public rights of way closed |
Simonside | Closed | Work well underway, reopening by Winter 2022 |
Thrunton | Closed | Badly affected with storm damage, 2023 predicted opening timeline |
Kidland | Forest roads open | Rights of way blocked- Kidland is badly affected with storm damage. 2023 before forest itself reopen at earliest |