THE star of Northumberland tourism looks set to shine brighter as new accommodation at Kielder is unveiled, which could bring a £2m boost to the county’s economy.

In response to demand, new luxury lodges at Northumbrian Water’s Kielder Waterside Park were revealed to guests, including dignitaries and tourism leaders from across the county.

It is the latest in a series of developments by Northumbrian Water, aimed at meeting demand from the increasing numbers of visitors wishing to relax in one of the country’s most picturesque spots and hoping to gaze at the stars in Europe’s largest Dark Skies park.

The new lodges will add to the award-winning leisure offer at Kielder Waterside Park and will take the number of lodges on site to 50, giving an estimated £2m boost to the Northumberland tourism economy.

Group commercial director at Northumbrian Water Maxine Mayhew said: “This is the start of an exciting time for Kielder and for Northumberland, as we embark upon the enhancement of the park. It is our aim to make Kielder Water & Forest Park the best in Britain.

“To reflect this ambition, we are improving the accommodation offering and these lodges will be of exceptional quality and design, representing a premium package for visitors at Kielder that complements the existing range of accommodation and activities available at Kielder Waterside Park and within the wider Kielder Water & Forest Development Trust partnership.”

The new five-star lodges boast features including a swim spa, star gazing pods, BBQ huts, hot tubs, games consoles, bluetooth speakers, underfloor heating and a deck/patio area.

Sleeping up to six guests, the lodges also benefit from options such as early check-in and late checkout, luxury toiletries and more.

Coun. Val Tyler, cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture at Northumberland County Council, said: “Northumerland’s tourism economy is worth £776m and supports 11,000 jobs, making it the second largest employment sector and also the fastest growing.

“Expansion plans like this for Kielder are critical in supporting this growth.

“The council is proud to be part of the Kielder Development Trust and to work with Northumbrian Water to further develop the area of one of the county’s top visitor destinations.”

The news comes just a few months after the team at Kielder was named Hoseasons’ Best Relax and Explore Location in the North of England at the self-catering specialist’s annual awards ceremony.

Geoff Cowley, managing director at Wyndham Vacation Rentals – the parent company of Hoseasons – said: “We are extremely proud of our long-established partnership with the team at Kielder and the work we do to promote this breathtaking location to customers across the UK and beyond.

“The truly beautiful environment coupled with luxury lodge accommodation, hot tubs, instructor-led facilities and fantastic customer service, make this unique park one of our most popular destinations for customers looking for a luxury short break experience just a few hours from home.”