Stargazing & Walking Weekend - Northumberland

We are offering a Pickup service for this trip - please see below. If you prefer to make your own way to the accommodation, then you are welcome to arrive from 5pm.

Dinner will be booked for around 8pm, so if you intend to arrive later than this, please let us know and ensure you have something to eat on the way.

Pickup (Day 1): We are offering a Pickup from Haxham Train Station at 3:30pm.

Return (Day 3): If booking the Pickup, we will also return you to Hexham Train Station on the final day, after we finish walking. Please book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility with the return time.

Meeting Location (if not booking a Pickup):
Brown Rigg Lodges
Bellingham
Northumberland
NE48 2HR

Parking: There is parking available at the accommodation.

Public Transport: Brown Rigg Lodges are located 16 miles from Hexham Train Station, with services to/from Carlisle and Newcastle. There is a local bus service (#680) from Hexham to Bellingham - the bus stop in Bellingham is a 3-minute walk from Brown Rigg Lodges.

Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.

The group will stay across two of the Guest Lodges at Brown Rigg Lodges & Guest Rooms. These thoughtfully renovated and refurbished former school buildings offer cosy accommodation in a fantastic location. Wi-Fi is available and there’s a handy drying room.
All bedding is provided, but please make sure you bring a towel and your own toiletries.

Accommodation Address:
Brown Rigg Lodges
Bellingham
Northumberland
NE48 2HR

Room Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin Room (shared bathroom)
Sole Occupancy Double Room (shared bathroom)

At this accommodation there are Shared Rooms where you’ll be sharing a twin room - with two single beds - with one other participant (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).
Twin Rooms sleep up to two participants booking together and have two single beds - bathrooms are shared with other rooms. (Sometimes rooms with double beds are available, so please let us know if you would prefer a double bed and we will do our best, although we can’t guarantee this option will be available).
Sole Occupancy Double Rooms are for one participant and have a double bed (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).

Included:

• Pickup service from Hexham Train Station, if required - see the Meeting Location & Time section above - and transportation for the duration of the trip

• 2 nights’ accommodation at Brown Rigg Lodges.

• A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you and deal with the logistics for your experience.

• Guided walks on two days (Day 2 and Day 3)

• Entry to Kielder Observatory for an evening of stargazing (Day 2).

• A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).

• A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2’s walk.

• Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.

• Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.

• The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.

• Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.

Not included:

• Travel to and from the meeting location.

• Dinner each evening - we’ll book a table at a local restaurant to enjoy dinner as a group and you can purchase whatever you fancy from the menu available.

• Any extra (i.e. not mentioned above in ‘Included’) excursions or activities that you may partake in which incur a cost.

• Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.

• Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.

• Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.

• Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.

Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.

The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should be carrying the items listed.

What level of fitness is needed?
This trip is graded as Leisurely. Click here to see Large Outdoors’ Experience Levels.

Can I attend on my own?
Absolutely. The majority of our participants are solo travellers and adventurers. Plenty of fun, laughter and numerous long-term friendships (and a few marriages!) have begun on Large Outdoors experiences since 2008, so there’s no need to feel worried about your first experience, or indeed trying a new type of outdoor activity, with us.

I am currently on a specific diet / have an allergy - can you cater for me?
Unfortunately, we are generally unable to cater for a wide variety of diets or food preferences due to the nature and cost of our catered trips and/or the use of shared kitchens. However, we can offer vegetarian, vegan, and/or provide meals with gluten free ingredients - these options can be selected when booking.
This particular experience offers a little more flexibility catering wise, as evening meals are taken at local restaurants, so please contact us if you’d like to check whether it is suitable for your dietary needs.

What transport is provided during this trip?
Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door.

Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are not allowed on this experience, except for trained assistance dogs. If you wish to bring your trained assistance dog, please let us know in advance of booking so we can discuss the itinerary and any activity/equipment/accommodation, and of course additional safety requirements or considerations that may be necessary.

Northumberland National Park is fantastic for exploring, both during the day time and at night. 572 square miles of Northumberland has been awarded Gold Tier status for their pristine dark skies, and the International Dark Sky Park there is the largest in the UK.

In the heart of the stunning Kielder Forest is the world-renowned Kielder Observatory, which offers the ideal place to watch in wonder as the magic of this dark sky comes into view. On a clear night you can stand and stare from the observation deck at a sky filled with billions of stars and the Milky Way arching overhead. Inside, powerful telescopes and knowledgeable astronomers open up a world of planets, galaxies and star clusters.

What did you enjoy about your experience? “Walking. The leader, Martin. Supportive companions on the trip. Seeing a different part of the UK. Learning about the night sky.” Joanna