Local Area

Dramatic gritstone edges, wild heather moorlands and gentle limestone dales make the Peak District National Park one of Britain's best-loved landscapes. Shaped by humans over thousands of years, the Peak District is a 'living landscape' that supports a rich diversity of wildlife, culture and heritage.

Derbyshire's Ladybower reservoir was completed in 1945, providing drinking water for the cities of the north and east Midlands. It is the largest of a chain of three massive reservoirs which are known collectively as the ‘Peakland Lake District’. Howden and Derwent dams lie further up the valley.

These two were used by the famous ‘Dambusters’ in their experiments with Barnes Wallis's famous ‘bouncing bomb’. Much of the film The Dambusters was filmed here. When Ladybower was built, it submerged two lovely villages, Derwent and Ashopton.

Many buildings were sacrificed beneath the waters including ancient farms and Derwent Hall, a property of the Dukes of Norfolk dating from 1672. The spire of the parish church was visible for a while whenever the water level was low, but was demolished for safety reasons.

The valley is now a scenic tourist attraction, with well - marked footpaths, cycle - hire available for the attractive woodland and lakeside cycle routes, picnic sites and car parking.

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