Kielder Water & Forest Park

Kielder Water & Forest Park is an impressive place, spanning about 250 square miles of forest, the largest one in England and also holding the largest lake created by Man in the territories of northern Europe. Its unique and beautiful landscape is loved and enjoyed by people from all over Britain and Europe and was voted NE England’s best tourism experience of the year 2012.

While there are many reasons for one to visit, its incredible views and scenery are the most popular reason to be here. It is a remote, quiet location that offers crisp clean air, plenty of open spaces for picnics and stunning views begging to be photographed. You can rejuvenate your energy by even enjoying a nice dark night of stargazing. You can spend quality time here thanks to the comfortable accommodation and traditional cuisine offered in the area as well.

Outstanding beauty spot Kielder Water

Kielder Park offers a whole lot for nature lovers and explorers through a chance to enjoy walking, cycling, family picnics, water sports and whole lot more. Whether your passion is mountain biking, long hiking trips or something more calm such as bird watching you will find an activity to enjoy. See more on this video:

When it comes to cycling, you have a wide range of routes available to you for various levels of skill and ability. There are twenty-two trails one can choose from, but Lakeside Way allows to enjoy a long bike along the Kielder Water shoreline where you will enjoy a 27-mile long beautiful cycling experience. The trails have a travel guide one can obtain at any of the visitor centres at the site itself.

Deep in the woods are tower slides designed and built by Image Playgrounds - read more about the interesting project work at Kielder on their website

Lakeside Way has the most scenic, gorgeous part of the lake shore with views and wildlife both abundant and lovely for all of us enjoying a great time in the green expanses of England. The multi-user track available here is capable of accommodating cyclists, walkers, horse riding and even wheelchairs. If that is not enough, you can take a walk around Kielder village.

Kielder Water offers wonderful opportunities on its eleven square kilometres for water sports. A fun fact: If the waters of the lake were to be distributed among the world's population, each and every one of us would have seven gallons of water. That is the size of the lake you would be exploring should you visit the park grounds. Sailing, canoeing, water skiing during the summer season and more are offered through the Calvert Trust and professional clubs around the lake. These activities are highly sought after, so pre-booking is required to stay ahead of the line of people aiming for them. Make sure you call your chosen club ahead of time so you can enjoy your time there without disappointment and issues originating from such lack of organization on your part. You can even use your own equipment on the park grounds, however you will need to adhere to the rules and regulations decided upon by the park authorities. 

Horse riding is something else you and your kids can enjoy, and if you have a horse of your own, you'll be able to ride it here as well. There is a lovely network of forest tracks and bridleways for you to enjoy with access to almost all of them. If you don't have one, you can always check Cragside Stables, which is a horse riding school which doubles as an equestrian centre in Hexham, near Bardon Mill. Your age, riding history and height will be required before you can rent any horses or ponies for your enjoyment. 

Guest author Heather writes for http://www.vacation-rentals.com/vacation-rentals/kentucky.html and has been traveling since she was a little child. She lives in the US and loves planning family trips and exploring new places.

Areas to Stay in Barcelona

Five areas to stay in Barcelona

These are my five best places to stay in Barcelona. Some are iconic and world famous - such as the Sagrada Familia and the old town and Las Ramblas while others are insider's local tips but all are ideal locations for renting Barcelona apartments.

Barcelona is very popular with tourists and these 5 tips will help you walk the best of both its beaten and unbeaten tracks.

The Old Town - El Barri Gotic

If you don’t have long in Barcelona perhaps stay here as it is the most central district with most sites packed in.

El barri gotic is the original and oldest part of the city with roman, medieval, art nouveau and modern architecture packed within its ancient streets.

In truth many locals would opine that Las Ramblas are a little over-rated and that their tsurrounding areas are much more interesting. They are certainly bustling and depending on your preferences read into that overcrowded or vibrant.

In the surrounding old town you will find the Picasso Museum also, the Port Vell (Old Port), shops, restaurants, windy old streets, pedestrian plazas and terrace cafes.

Accommodation here is in plentiful supply but due to its popularity prices can be high in summer.

The Beach

Come summer or winter, Barcelona has wonderful sandy beaches that are extremely enticing to all. The beaches in Barcelona are also very accessible from the centre and are a part of the city itself, they not a long trip by public transport away.

Come winter, the beach then becomes a city park used for recreation by locals and tourists alike. It is perfect for gettings some fresh sea air and enjoying a drink and some tapas next to the sea in the winter sunshine. 

Passeig de Gracia

Described by some as an outdoors museum, Passeig de Gracia is Art Nouveau central, and is where Gaudí's Casa Batlló and the Casa Milà (La Pedrera) can be found. Passeig de Gràcia links Plaça Catalunya (the central square) with the former village of Gràcia. Gràcia is a very popular district and hangout place for young people and especially young families in especial.

This is probably Barcelonas finest street and home to the most expensive shops and restaurants in the city. It divides Barcelona’s 19th century art nouveau district in two and is the main focus of the neighbourhood.

Gràcia

Gràcia village was once a small rural village outside the city limits, until the aformentioned Eixample district was built at the end of the 18th century and it was consumed by the city. Luckily it was not changed at all and maintains its villlage charm.

Gràcia is charming and laid back and is where locals hang out at the weekends. It offers an old low rise village with pedestrian streets and squares lined with orange trees, relaxed and informal bars and restaurants and a generally very relaxed atmosphere. If only Barcelona were a stressful city this would be the place to escape it!

Sagrada Familia

This is not a well known area in terms of accommodation as it si dominated by the iconic Sagrada Familia. But it is a delightful central residential neighbourhood with Gaudí’s landmark right on its doorstep.

If you are interested in the Sagrada Familia then this is a good place to stay so you can roll out of bed early but not too early and beat the queues.

Sagrada Familia is part fo the Eixample district and you can get to the centre in 3 metro stops so it is very well communicated, It also boasts ann excellent food market and Avinguda Gaudí. The latter is is a pedestrian rambla and it is a very agreeable place for some refreshments.

These recommendations were written by the team of www.feelathomeinbarcelona.com. If these districts interest you go to their site here.