Minotaur Maze at Kielder

Located in the grounds of Kielder Castle. Wheelchair users can access the work via the Duchess trail. The Minotaur Maze is a must for children and adults alike. The adventurous will discover a number of special features that include a set of stairs taking visitors above the walls and enabling them to consider possible alternative routes within the maze.

The final goal, a small glittering room formed from rocks of recycled glass is a quiet place from which to contemplate the task of discovering a return route to the outside world.


History
In 2004 artist Shona Kitchen and architect Nick Coombe were commissioned to design a new maze for Kielder Castle Visitor Centre. Shona Kitchen is an internationally renowned multidisciplinary artist/designer with a passion for technological advancement. Nick Coombe is a chartered architect and a graduate of the Royal College of Art, where he was mentored by Eduardo Paolozzi.


Construction
Minotaur is located just below Kielder Castle, opposite the Anglers Arms. Surrounded by an old drystone wall, and overlooked by the fake fortifications of Kielder Castle, the maze deliberately uses a rugged walling system comprised of gabions filled with volcanic lava rocks.

The design developed over a period of about a year with details of the layout constantly being tested and changed with assistance from the University of Middlesbrough's Virtual Reality Centre.

The materials used in the final structure were Whinstone, a local basalt whose colour changes from light blue-grey when dry, to almost black when wet, and a recycled glass recovered from industrial glass kilns when they undergo maintenance.

Minotaur was opened in 2006 and won RIBA and Civic Trust Awards the following year.


About Kielder Castle
Wikipedia: Kielder Castle Visitor Centre is an 18th-century hunting lodge built by the Duke of Northumberland, which has been converted into a visitor and information centre. It is located on the edge of Kielder Village at the head of the River North Tyne valley. The Castle serves as a hub for the growing number of recreational facilities on offer, walking and cycling trails, picnic areas and a forest drive.


About Kielder Forest
Wikipedia: Kielder Forest is a large forestry plantation in Northumberland, England, surrounding Kielder village and the Kielder Water reservoir. It is the largest man-made woodland in England with three-quarters of its 250 square miles (650 km2) covered by forest.