MTB Keilder campsite

The MTB Kielder campsite sits right in the thick of Northumberland's best-kept cycling territory, about thirty minutes drive west of Hexham. It's a working base rather than a destination in itself - you're here for the trails, not the amenities. The site itself is functional: tent pitches and basic facilities strung through the forest with direct access to Kielder's extensive mountain bike network. Expect to spend a full day or more tackling the red and black runs that crisscross the forest; this isn't a quick tick-off spot.

Who comes here? Serious cyclists, mostly. Families with kids old enough to handle technical terrain will find plenty to occupy themselves. If you're after gentle woodland strolls and picnic tables, you'll be disappointed. The whole point is getting muddy and earning your afternoon pint. The forest itself - vast and quietly impressive - rewards anyone willing to put the miles in, but you'll need a bike to make proper use of it.

Stay for at least two or three nights if you're making the effort from further south. The campsite fills quickly during school holidays. Landal Kielder Waterside and Kielder Waterside and Lodges, both nearby, offer lodge accommodation if you want something less rough than canvas. Check Kielder's official cycling site for current trail conditions and what's rideable after heavy rain - it matters more than you'd think up here.