The first Saturday of half term marked the beginning of the 2025 Kielder Trip. At 7am, eight boys in Year 10 and 11 set off on a long journey to the hilly landscapes of Northumbria. Spirits were high as we loaded our bags onto the minibus and began the drive northwards. Our first stop was at the National Space Centre, where we were treated to a fascinating planetarium show about space travel and its future. Watching the story of lunar and Martian exploration unfolding across a huge dome screen was an amazing experience, and we left with our curiosity about space thoroughly renewed. We also explored full-size rocket towers, exhibits on the Space Race and the development of human spaceflight and space exploration tools.
After another stretch of driving, we stopped for dinner at an excellent Indian pizza restaurant before finally arriving at our accommodation. That evening, we took a short excursion up a nearby hill to gaze at the stars. Using the school telescope, we caught a glimpse of Saturn and its rings, as well as constellations such as Orion’s Belt, Ursa Minor, and the Pleiades. The night ended with a lively astronomy quiz with congratulations to Wolfie and Reya, who took first place.
The next morning, we woke early for a refreshing hike along Hadrian’s Wall. The walk was both peaceful and fascinating, culminating in lunch beside the famous Sycamore Gap tree, or rather where it would have been if it hadn’t been tragically cut down. That afternoon, Year 11 took to the kitchen for the annual cooking competition. Determined to finally dethrone Year 10 who had won the competition every year prior, we prepared a Mexican burrito bowl featuring seasoned beef and chicken, rice, black beans and colourful toppings. The process was as chaotic as it was enjoyable, with the teachers praising the end result for both its flavour and effort.
Later that evening, we travelled to the Kielder Observatory. The talk that followed was truly inspiring and deepened our understanding of the night sky and particularly stars. We made sure to ask many meaningful questions. We were shown the enormous telescopes used at the site and learned how they capture light from distant galaxies. Although clouds prevented us from stargazing that night, the experience of touching real space rocks and even standing on a fragment of Mars made up for it.
Monday began with what proved to be the most demanding part of the trip: a 45km (about 28 miles) cycle through the scenic forests and reservoirs of Kielder. The distance felt immense, especially the uphill climbs, but the views were spectacular. In past years, only a few had managed to complete the full route, however this time, everyone did. Even after sustaining a leg injury halfway through, I was determined to finish, as was Blake, who recovered from an early tumble. The sense of achievement at the end was enormous.
That evening, Year 10 took over the kitchen for their turn in the cooking contest. Under Wolfie’s leadership, they served perfectly prepared smash burgers. Their process was notably more organised than ours, and while the taste was neck and neck, their tidier execution earned them the win which left Year 11 still without a victory. We finished the night with a fascinating talk from one of the observatory’s astronomers, who shared her passion for the universe and answered our many questions about the stars.
Our final morning came too soon. After packing up and saying farewell to our accommodation, we made one last stop at a beautiful waterfall, High Force, where we took some scenic photos to mark the end of an incredible trip. By the time we returned to school, everyone was tired but extremely fulfilled.
The Kielder Trip was an unforgettable blend of science, adventure, and friendship. Huge thanks go to Mr Turley and Dr Mann for organising and leading such an enjoyable experience.
