Ladybower Reservoir

Ladybower Reservoir in the Derwent Valley was built between 1935 and 1943; King George VI opened it on 25 September 1945. The reservoir is about 4 km long, up to 41 m deep and holds some 27.8 million cubic metres. The villages of Ashopton and Derwent were flooded; the last service in Derwent’s church was held on 17 March 1943. In dry years such as 2018 and 2022, remains of walls reappeared. Beside the dam stand two bellmouth overflows, 24 m across and 20 m deep, known as “plugholes”; they usually overflow in winter after rain or snow.

Further up the valley lie Derwent and Howden reservoirs. In 1943 No. 617 Squadron (the “Dambusters”) practised low-level flying here, because the dams resembled the Möhne and Eder dams in Germany. A memorial stone of 1988 on the west tower of Derwent Dam commemorates this. The starting point for walks is the Fairholmes visitor centre below the dam wall. The circuit of the upper valley is 9.3 km long (about 3.5 hours).