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The circular wood trail around Ladybower Reservoir is one of the very best things to do in the Peak District National Park – it’s the classic loop that not only offers some of the best views of the reservoir, but also numerous places to stop along the way – including for a bite to eat and drink.
In this guide I’ll cover what you can expect from this trail, plus things like how to get there, where to park, tips, alternatives and even where to stay if you’re looking to base yourself nearby.
What is Ladybower Reservoir?
You might have heard of this place, but not actually know what it is.
So, Ladybower Reservoir is one of the biggest reservoirs in the Peak District National Park at 520 acres. It’s a Y-shaped damn that’s filled by the River Ashop and River Derwent and holds a whopping 464 billion litres of water.
After being transported via an aqueduct and going through a rigorous cleaning process, the water in reservoir is actually served to much of the population in the East Midlands!
Where is it?
It’situated just above the central Peak District in an area known as the ‘High Peak’.
The closest village is Bamford, best known for Bamford Edge, where some of the best views of the reservoir can be enjoyed.
How to get to the Ladybower Reservoir Walk trailhead
By car
The best way to get to the start of the trail is by car. This is because the Peaks are mostly made up of heaps of fields, with many villages and towns dotted across the area that are connected by country roads.
If you need to rent a car, then I always recommend Rentalcars.com or Discovercars.com. Both curate all of the best deals on the market, but depending on where you’re heading to, one will have better offers.
Bus
There is no bus that will take you directly to the trailhead of this walk, but there is a bus stop along another section of the walk called Ashtop, Ladybower Inn – so you could easily join the trail from here.
Below are some popular bus routes from well-known locations, but always make sure to check the Peak District Bus timetable ahead of your journey.
From Castleton: Bus 256/257/258 – 17 minutes
From Hathersage: Bus 256/257/258 -39 minutes
From Bakewell: Bus 256/257/258 – 1 hour 15 minutes
Train
The closest village to the trailhead of this walk is Bamford. And, whilst there is a train station, it’s not a viable option since it would be approximately a 1-hour walk to the starting point.
If you’re happy with this additional time, then it’s worth noting that many of the other small villages across the Peak District National Park have small train stations.
Ladybower Reservoir Parking
The official car park for this walk is Bridge Edge Car Park. This is a paid car park that will cost £3 for the day, which can only be paid in cash!
Alternatively, Derwent Overlook Car Park is slightly further along and is free.
Ladybower Reservoir walk postcode: S33 0AQ
Best time to walk
Personally, I think this trail would be great all year round (unless it’s icey – then probably give it a miss), but technically, the best time to do any kind of walk in the Peaks is between April and October. This is when the weather is most likely going to be dry in the UK.
What’s great about this trail is that a lot of it covered by trees, so even on days where the weather isn’t so nice, you can still head out and enjoy most of it.
By the way, here are a few more trails that I’ve written about that are great in the area:
Key details on the trail
Distance
This Ladybower Reservoir walk length is 9.2 kilometres.
Difficulty
The difficulty of this walk is rated as easy, and whilst it’s an undulating route throughout, this is a gentle walk that hugs the edge of the reservoir the entire time.
You’ll see many children on this walk, as well as mothers with prams.
Elevation
The total elevation of this walk is 247 meters. If you look at the profile of the elevation, you’ll see that it is very spikey. However, at no point does the elevation become too much, even for the novice hiker.
Duration
For most walkers, this route should take approximately 2 hours to complete. However, I’d recommend leaving 2-3 hours to allow for a bite to eat and plenty of pictures!
What to expect on the day
The Ladybower and Lee Wood Circular walk begins from the car park and immediately finds a trail that hugs the edge of the reservoir and winds its way along a dusty path, before eventually arriving at the Upper Derwent Visitor Centre.
Here, you’ll find toilets, bike rental, a cafe and plenty of picnic benches, which are worth making use of as these are the only facilities on the walk that offer food and drink.
Through the woods and up the hill
As you continue along the route, you’ll begin to lead uphill slightly. You’ll walk through a forest that’s perched on the edge of the reservoir and have full view of the huge body of water from the centre point of one of the prongs which form the Y-shape.
Before continuing along the trail, it’s worth diverting slightly towards Derwent Reservoir, as you’ll find the impressive overflow from Ladybower Reservoir pouring over a dam. For me, this is one of the most impressive parts of the walk, so I’d recommend going out of your way to add on this small section!
Along the trail and over Ladybower bridge
The route continues to undulate alongside the reservoir, dipping in and out of the woodland. With every step, Ladybower Bridge will get slightly bigger as you get closer and closer. You’ll want to make sure that you take this opportunity to take some pictures of the bridge, as along this section of the trail are some of the best viewpoints!
Once the trail spits you out onto the main road, you’ll cross the bridge to see and see the three prongs of Ladybower Reservoir.
Looping back to the car park
Once you’ve made it to the other side of the bridge, the trail loops back around and diverts off of the main road and back onto a small dusty trail. Here, you’ll get some more great views of the bridge as well as the reservoir. You’ll want to make the most of these views as this is the last time you’ll have a clear view before the trail leads back to the car park through woodland.
I already mentioned a few more hikes in the area earlier on, but here are a few others I’ve written about too (different to the ones I mentioned earlier).
Ladybower Reservoir Walk map
Below is an interactive map of what is, in my opinion, one of the best walks around Ladybower Reservoir.
If you’ve got an Alltrails account, then I highly recommend saving this to your favourites and downloading it ahead of the walk.
Tips
Park in one of the free car parks
Although the walk which I’ve chosen begins in a paid car park, I actually don’t recommend parking here since there if you can help it, as there are heaps of free car parks around that all land on the trail at some point.
I recommend Derwent Overlook Car Park, however, if this is full then just keep driving until you find another free spot.
Don’t worry about starting the walk early
Since there are quite a few free car parks to choose from on this walk, there is no rush to start the walk early as it’s unlikely that you’ll need to fight for a car parking space.
Make use of the cafe
The Upper Derwent Visitor Centre has a small cafe. I did already mention it, but this is the only place to stop along the route for something to eat or drink.
The downside is that this cafe is quite close to the start of the walk, so if you’d rather use this as a halfway stop, then I’d deifnitely recommend taking a look at the map and starting the walk from a car park that’s slightly further away.
Or take a picnic
Alternatively, there are plenty of places to stop beside the reservoir for a picnic, so this is obviously a great option too.
Download the map ahead of the walk
Most locations in the Peak District National Park don’t have very good signal and as such, you’ll struggle to follow a live map. I’d recommend downloading the map ahead of your walk to avoid getting lost along the way!
Download music or podcasts if you’re going solo!
Similarly to the reason above, you’ll also want to download anything that you may want to listen to whilst you’re walking if you’re embarking on a solo adventure.
Tell someone which trail you’re walking on
Whilst the likelyhood of anything bad happening on this trail is low, whenever you go hiking, it’s always best to let someone know where you’re heading in case you have no phone signal and you run into some trouble.
If you’re staying at a hotel or hostel, then we’d recommend letting the reception know. If you’re staying in an Airbnb then it’s worth dropping the owner a text.
Take a battery pack
With such stunning scenery, there will be plenty of opportunities to take photos and videos on this walk. Whilst it’s great to capture the memories, these usually come at a high cost to your phone battery. I’d recommend packing a battery pack to avoid any dead phones and disappointment.
Be prepared for the weather
If like me, you’re from the UK then you’ll know that the weather can be unpredictable at the best of times.
Regardless of what time of year you’re walking around Ladybower Reservoir, I’d always recommend packing a raincoat at a minimum. Luckily, this walk is sheltered for a lot of the time, however, you can never be too careful.
Bring snacks and drinks
As already mentioned, the only place to stop along this trail for food and drink is the Upper Derwent Visitor Centre. I’d recommend packing some snacks and drinks to keep you going along the walk, as on a hot day in the Peak District your energy will quickly drop!
Consider hiring a bike
Walking around the reservoir is a popular activity, however, it’s also possible to cycle. You can pick up some rental bikes from the Upper Derwent Visitor Centre if you’d prefer this option.
Alternative routes around Ladybower Reservoir
Whilst I strongly believe that the Ladybower and Lee Wood Circular is the very best walk, I totally appreciate that some people may be looking for an easy walk or something a little more challenging.
Below are some alternative routes which are worth considering.
Easy
The Ladybower and Led Hill Circular is just over 5 kilometres. It hugs the reservoir for just under half of the walk, before climbing Led Hill, which provides some of the best views of Ladybower Reservoir.
Hard
At just under 27 kilometres, this route is no mean feat! It strolls beside almost all of the reservoir and covers some great elevation that provides fantastic views of the area from above.
Where to stay nearby
Bamford
Bamford is by far the closest village to stay in if you’re looking to have Ladybower Reservoir on your doorstep. It’s a small place with little more than a few shops, however, it’s the perfect base for those looking for a peaceful stay with access to not only this walk but other great walks such as Bamford Edge and Mam Tor, too.
Hathersage
Hathersage is a bustling village in the Peak District that has a bit more atmosphere than Bamford. It’s got a small high street with a few pubs and seems to be busy all year round. The trailhead of this walk is just 7 minutes drive from Hathersage, so it’s a great option for those who enjoy a mixture of walking in the Peaks and eating out.
Sheffield
If you’re looking to balance a city break with the countryside then look no further than Sheffield. It’s just 25 minutes from the trailhead of this walk and has a lot to offer. You’ll find quirky parts of the city such as Kelham Island, as well as heaps of places to eat and drink in the sunshine.
Conclusion
If you like the look of this Ladybower Reservoir walk, then you’ll find plenty of other great walks nearby that I’ve sprinked throughout this post. Below are a few more of my favourites in the area that you can check out next:
Millie / Stay Wild Travels.
