derwent dam

Did a little hike around here with the 3 Walking Ladies 28th Feb 2015. What an absolutely beautiful area. There are good facilities at Fairholmes but nothing much anywhere else. We climbed upwards away from the reservoirs at first for a trek along the moor and Rowlee Pasture for an amazing view of Alport Castles then down through a beautiful woodland area to meet the stream that starts to feeds the reservoir joining Howden Reservoir at the top end then just a little over 3 miles down good roads passing the stunning dam and then the even bigger one at the bottom of Upper Derwent took us right back to Fairhomes. We arrived at Fairholmes at 5 p.m. and all the facilities were still open. Apparently they are open every day but Christmas Day. There is also a shuttle bus that you can jump on and off but this only runs in the summer months.

We went a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed walking all around this area. There was still snowfall around so very cold but we were wrapped up and enjoyed the resevoirs and the views massively. Parking is £4.70 for the day at the visitors centre but we parked just outside the car park in the 10 or so spaces at the side of the road and that was free for the day as well as many other places in the area.Stunning place, took many photos for the various photography projects I do, and had a great day out here.

Beautiful scenery, love the sound of rushing water! Hard surfaced path round outside, so suitable for good pushchairs. Apparently you can do a full circular, but this is about 9 miles long; lots of cyclists were doing this. We walked for a couple of miles and came back same path as kids were getting tired.

We enjoyed our visit to the Derwent Valley Dams and the Peak District National Park. There were various lovely walks, and most of them are reasonably accessible (with a few exceptions that have stairs - ask in the visitors information centre if a particular track is wheelchair and stroller accessible). Parking was difficult, but we were lucky to snag a spot when someone else was leaving. The main disappointment was that we came to visit the Dam Busters Museum, but it was closed (due to ill health, we completely understand, we just wish there had been information available before we drove an hour to see the museum on a Sunday when it is advertised as open). The other slightly odd thing is that the memorial to the dam busters air crews is locked away behind iron gates, so you are unable to pay your respects, except through the bars - I've been to a lot of memorials, and have never seen this. I suspect it is due to the gate being locked by the museum, but the second gate leading from the memorial towards the museum can also be locked, so there seems no reason to lock the public out of the memorial (I asked at the visitors centre if they had had vandalism, as I was concerned that may have been the reason).The staff in the visitors information centre were very friendly and welcoming.

We took a 12mile walk from Fairholmes car park up to the top of the highest reservoir and back the other side. A bright Sunday in February, with snow on the hills. It was full - lucky to find a couple of parking places (£4.70 for the day). The walking was fairly easy, but the scenery and views change rapidly. The valley runs north-south and the light changes continuously - especially at the end of the day with pinks and purples reflecting back off the snow. As the "kids" kept saying - its like another country, Switzerland or Italy; how can this be England? There are lots of other walks out of the valley - if I lived nearer it would be a weekly visit. And the pasties from the visitor centre at the end of a long walk are delicious.

visited this beautiful place at night as it is loacated in a really good "dark spot" to do some astrophotography. First time I had seen this dam and was overwhelmed by the size, what an awesome structure with so much history behind it. The sky was glowing with the number of stars you could see, never thought id be able to see anything like that so close to sheffield. Well worth a visit day or night

Went out with family who came from London. We are enjoyed it. It was cold for December. Had a decent picnic. Drove and walked around. Worth a visit. Been several times and will go again.

This place is a great place to visit and walk around and take in the history of the Dam Busters of the WW2. Derwent Valley is beautiful in every weather condition. A beautiful place with so much history and a place close to me and my loved one.

Derwent Valley is full of beautiful scenery in an area where nature has not been spoilt by human habitation.

My friends and I we wanted to organize a "Natural trip", so after looking several locations, we finally decided to visit this National Park. Amazing green and golden landscapes, awesome castles and stone cottages, wonderful animals, and two great lakes, this is the description of this green lung in the middle of England. You must go and enjoy with your family or friends at least one day in this unfforgetable place.

The views are beautiful,the dam full of social history and a place that can be enjoyed by all the familyYou can see the ruins of Tin town,the area where the dam builders lived and it has a calming atmosphereThere is a wonderful guidebook to buy which explains how the Dam was built and the village that had to be sunk to build itIt is a 10 mile walk around the Dam which is a lovely walk to complete,we have done it quite a few timesYou have to watch our for the bikers though who can speed round corners and not always look for walkersAn enjoyable visit

Walked part of the Derwent dam. Very beautiful walk by the water, well worth a visit.The Derwent Dam was used by the Dambusters for practice with their bouncing bomb.

Did aprox 14 miles around derwent and Howden resevoirs.... accidentally missed out Ladybower which we will return to do another day.... lovely ride... hard at times .... especially on the stoney path before 'slippery stones' but so worth it...a little while after here was tarmac and the most amazing wooded area and beautiful autumn scenery on a lovely sunny October afternoon.... great for history lovers.... this is where the damn busters tried out the bouncing bombs....War is never the answer.... much prefer cycling and peace ; )

This is a favourate haunt for our family having Labradors and now pugs too , it's only a 35 minute drive from my house so an easy drive on warm days , the parking in the visitors center is very good although very busy on a weekend , the derwent dam is a very beautiful piece of engineering and is renown for being used by the RAF in ww2 to train the brave Lancaster bomber pilots for the famous German raid , the little museum there has lots if information about this daring feet , there is acres of woodland and paths to explore both sides of the dam and the summer picnic is a must on the warmer days , if you haven't been here , do so and take a camera too the scenery is breathtaking .

We have been already few times nearby. Walked from Ladybower reservoir to Upper Derwent dam. Also climbed Win Hill from Drewent Dam. Very beautiful walk! Cheap parking nearby ( £2.50 all day) - Heatherdene, Derbyshire S33 0BY Worth a visit.