Hawkhirst
Wild about water sports?
Set in 70 acres of coniferous forest in rural Northumberland, Hawkhirst offers unparalleled water sports as well as a range of other activities.
One of the truly great remote spots of northern England (we’re one of the best dark sky locations in the UK, offering magical stargazing) this is great place to get away from it all, learn to canoe, sail, build rafts and generally get wet and wild.
FACILITIES AND ACCOMMODATION
Camp or lodge? We've got it all.
On-site camping
Within the stunning landscape of Kielder Forest, on the shores of Kielder Water and surrounded by coniferous forest, camping at Hawkhirst is an amazing experience. With a number of camping areas and excellent facilities on-site, you’ll be close to showers, toilets and fresh running water.
Tented village
Our tented village is made up of 9, 4m bell tents and comes complete with comfortable mattresses and storage boxes. There’s also a group tent with tables, benches and lighting. Offering space for 36 people it’s available to book from mid-May to October.
Indoor accommodation
Choose from three lodges, all of which include:
- Full heating
- Self-catering and full board options (dependent on lodge)
- Linen supplied, if required
- Communal lounge/dining area
There are no kitchen facilities in our indoor accommodation, so you will need to book catering with us when staying in the Sunley Centre or Rowan Lodge.
Available badge programmes

Choose your own School adventure experience
It's your experience, so you're in charge. We believe that you should play a key role in designing your experience. To help, we have four basic products as a starting point:


Original outdoor experience
Immersed in the outdoors, young people will learn skills, work as a team and develop a sense of responsibility.
1-4 nights in our tented village.
Why? Learn new skills, promote team work.


Outdoor adventure
Young people are invited to paddle, climb and think their way through a series of exciting challenges, from canoeing and archery to high ropes and orienteering.
1-4 nights in our lodges or tented village.
Why? Form strong working relationships between teachers and pupils; develop initiative and self-reliance.


Adventure 50:50
Split your time between self-led sessions and instructed activities. We can help you meet your learning objectives by providing activities, skills or simply the space you need.
2-4 nights, full board accommodation in our lodges.
Why? Mix of teacher time and structured activities.
LOCAL AREA INFORMATION
Want more?
- Swoop down to the Kielder Water Bird of Prey Centre
- Make it a night to remember at the Kielder Observatory
- Pedal down to the Bike Place in Kielder to hire a bicycle, one of the best ways to explore this beautiful area
Great for: water sports, hiking and breath-taking scenery.