At the summit of Deadwater Fell. Camera presumably just fallen over. (Pic: Mark Pinder)

Some of the new trails under construction

Last year we reported on the trail developments in the 155,000 acre Kielder Forest. The first purpose-built MTB routes to be unveiled included a skills area near Kielder Castle Visitor Centre and the first nine mile phase of a family-friendly trail that will eventually circumnavigate Kielder Water (Europe’s largest reservoir, it says here).

There’s more on the way, though. Currently in development is a 15km singletrack route that will reach the 2,000ft summit of Deadwater Fell. Once you reach the top, you’re promised what are described as “unrivalled vistas” of the Northumberland fells, southern Scotland, the Solway Firth and the North Sea. Weather permitting, of course. The new trail will also include a “black route” section for a bit of added technical challenge.

Alex MacLennan, Forestry Commission Recreation, Communities and Tourism Manager, said:

“It’s an amazing opportunity to create a network of mountain bike routes in such vast and untapped terrain. For decades Kielder has been a sleeping giant – Europe’s biggest man-made forest simply crying out to be explored by riders. We’re passionate about our forests and want to share their beauty with riders from across the nation.”