On 26th May, 1982, the Queen officially opened Kielder Water in Northumberland.

It was one of the largest projects of its time, and now, thirty years on, Northumbrian Water's Kielder Water & Forest Park is now one of the county's top tourism destinations. There is something for everyone to enjoy from nature lovers, water sports enthusiasts, walkers, cyclists and families.

Kielder Water has some impressive statistics to its name too. It is the largest man-made lake in Northern Europe, the Forest Park is the largest forest in England and it is home to 50% of England's red squirrel population.

To mark the thirtieth anniversary of Kielder's opening a whole host of events have been planned for the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 May. There are free art and craft workshops for children, cycling and mountain biking and a special birthday fishing competition. There's also the opportunity to have a taster of some of the top outdoor activities - high ropes, indoor climbing wall, and giant king swing. A special exhibition is taking place, 'What the reservoir means to me', which showcases personal stories from people involved with the reservoir throughout its history. As if that wasn't enough, to complete this wealth of events you can also enjoy an Aurora Night at the Kielder Observatory which will explore how science has discovered the processes that create the Aurora in the sky.

Elisabeth Rowark, from Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, said: 'We're inviting everyone to join us in celebrating Kielder Water's first thirty years ... Kielder is such a special place and a place that many people hold dear to their hearts. Its sheer scale, the breath-taking scenery and the pure, idyllic tranquillity make it such a majestic and memorable place.'

For more information visit www.visitkielder.com.

If you need somewhere to stay for your visit why not use our Campsite Finder to pick the perfect pitch. One of our Premier Parks, Kielder Caravan Park, is a stone's throw away and pitches overlook the beautiful Kielder Water.