About Kielder
Kielder Water & Forest Park really is unique. It’s the fourth largest place on the planet with Dark Sky Status, alongside having the darkest skies in England. Kielder Water is northern Europe’s largest manmade lake, and Kielder Forest is England’s largest working forest. With so much going on, it really is the best place for a forest escape to the great outdoors.
As well as where we’re located, it’s our people that make us what we are. Most of our employees have lived in the area for years, and they really do know everything there is to know about Kielder, its offering and its history. This knowledge is unrivalled and proves invaluable to our visitors whether they be new to Kielder or regular visitors returning each year.
A quick history of Kielder village…
Kielder has been transformed from a small village to being the site of the largest manmade lake in northern Europe
The initial plans for Kielder started in the late 60s and were approved by parliament in 1974. The scheme originally happened to help with the unexpected rise in demand for water to support the booming industrial economy. The reservoir is owned by Northumbrian Water and holds 200 billion litres of water.
To build the reservoir the Kielder Valley had to be flooded which meant the loss of a school railway, numerous farms and homes. The reservoir was officially opened by the Queen in 1982 and took a further two years to fill with water. The scheme wasn’t without controversy and Northumbrian Water made a commitment to make the local economy sustainable which is what led to what is now known as the Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust.
Tower Knowe has an interactive exhibition where you can view the area as it was developed and learn in more detail about the full project and what has happened since.
Find out more about us
Discover more about our conservation efforts, local area and Northumbrian Water Group.
