Our Visitor Sites

Upper Derwent Valley

The Derwent, Howden and Ladybower Reservoirs make up the Upper Derwent Valley

How to find us

Upper Derwent
Fairholmes
Bamford
Derbyshire
S33 0AQ

The site is open every day except Christmas Day.

The opening hours of the visitor centre are:

Easter - 31st Oct

1st Nov - Easter

Weekends and public holidays

The car park charges are as follows:

Fairholmes and Heatherdene

Cash and card payments accepted

2 hours £3.50
Over 2 hours £6

Opening Times: 24hr (Only closes in extreme weather conditions)

Other car parks

 

2 hours £2
Over 2 hours £4

Parking charges apply for blue badge holders.

Some of the trails around Upper Derwent Valley are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. You can view our accessibility guide for more information.

Please call in at the Fairholmes Visitor Centre if you are concerned about access around the site.

Our team have also created a sensory guide for visitors with cognitive disabilities.

At Upper Derwent Valley you're welcome to walk your furry friend.

Due to the nature and wildlife on site you will need to keep your dog on a lead at all times.

Activities

General information

A little bit about Upper Derwent Valley

  • Upper Derwent Valley was created in the early 20th Century to provide 10,000 million gallons of water for the growing urban population in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire.
  • Over 1,000 people were involved in building the reservoirs and were housed in the temporary ‘Tin Town’ at Birchinlee.
  • There are the flooded villages of Derwent and Ashopton – when water levels are low, you may get a glimpse of the village remains.
  • The Derwent, Howden, and Ashopton Resevoirs were in fact once the training site of the famous Dambusters Squadron.