Ashopton - Derwent Edge - Ladybower

Michael Astle

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After a winding, steep climb up on to Derwent Edge you will be amply rewarded by the never-ending, breathtaking views over the Derwent Reservoir. Lift your eyes and you are looking over at Win and Lose Hill and the ridge over to Mam Tor. In the far distance stretches the Kinder plateau. You are now in the upper valley of the River Derwent and walking along this beautiful gritstone edge with its amazing rock formations, given such fanciful names as Coach and Horses, Hurkling Stones, Salt Cellar and Cakes of Bread.

There are three dams in this area: Ladybower, Derwent and Howden. They provide an area of truly outstanding beauty and grandeur, no matter in which season you visit them. The waters of the dams are undisturbed save for flocks of geese and ducks and the occasional fishing boat and the only sounds are the cries of the grouse and the skylark's song. Howden was built in 1901 and Derwent the following year. Ladybower was started in 1935 and finished in 1945. Inevitably there were outcries at the drowning of beautiful pastures and the villages of Ashopton and Derwent. Derwent Church had to undergo exhumation of its graves for re-burial. But today, the waters of the dams provide some of the most beautiful views in the Peak.

When Howden and Derwent Dams were being built, the Derwent Water Board built a railway to carry the stone from Longshaw Quarry. Workers were housed in a temporary village of corrugated iron huts that became known as Tin Town. No trace of this now exists but in a very dry period, such as 1976 and 2004, the foundations of houses and field boundaries can still be seen. Derwent Dam with its twin towers has a memorial to 617 Squadron, the Dambusters, who practised low-level flying for the May 1943 raid on the Moehne and Eder Dams in Germany.

Please note that part of this walk is on restricted open access land where dogs may not be taken. For more information about this particular area and other restricted open access areas, please go to the government's Countryside Access website.

England - Central England - Derbyshire - Peak District

Features

Great Views, Hills or Fells, Lake/Loch, Moor, National Trust, Toilets, Wildlife

9/14/2020 - Richard David Vaughan

A really nice walk. Some of the best views I've seen on any of the walks I've done. Just a note to say, the first mile is up hill, like it says so quite tough. But the next 2 miles is tough too because of the quite rugged terrain. After that it easy.

7/30/2013 - Norma Garrington

27/07/2013 - Norma & Roy Garrington Did this walk on a lovely warm day. Great views and an interesting walk back down to the Reservoir which we hadn't done before. A great walk!

2/19/2013 - Daron Wild

Did this walk at the weekend. A good proper hike. I was a little hampered by snow when I hit altitude, so lost my way a couple of times. I did the 8 mile walk in 5 hours, but I did keep stopping to take photo's! I parked up at the Severn Trent Facilities for £2.50, which is where the toilets are. No spaces near telephone box. Recommended.

6/27/2012 - Di Farrell

Brilliant hike and do it regularly when back in the Dark Peaks avoiding cows! The views are fabulous and apart from the first climb it is not a difficult hike. My 8 and 9yr old granddaughters rated it 10/10 as they loved climbing/exploring all the rock formations. If you have dogs, the stiles are friendly, my dogs are athletic so manage anything but be warned there are sheep everywhere.

9/2/2010 - Peter Dixon

What a super walk; instructions are superb. The first mile is a little demanding but thereafter a real reward for your climb.

4/6/2009 - Walkingworld Administrator

Thank you Judy. We have now altered the directions to include these updates.

3/22/2009 - Judy Brua

21/3/09 - Fabulous walk, excellent instructions. Waymark 13 the signpost has been changed and now reads 'Public Footpath to Ladybower'. Also, there is an extra 'Footpath sign between this one and the one mentioned at Waymark 14.

12/1/2007 - Kevin Mulligan

Walked on 01/12/07 - absolutely faultless step-by-step guide, scenery is stunning and all in all a fabulous walk.