Walk Summary
A walk around the stunning Ladybower Reservoir. Amble along a Roman road to the top of Win Hill for spectacular Peak District views. A trail alongside Ladybower Reservoir leads to the finale of the Derwent Dam waterfall.
Date: 13/01/2022
Length: 10.74 miles
Height Gain: 467 m
Terrain: Light traffic roads, pavements, forestry tracks, rocky paths, muddy paths, woodland path
Navagation: Reasonable signage. Woodland navigation.
Start: Fairholmes Car Park (the free one before the Vistor's Centre.
Route: Fairholmes Car Park, Hagg Farm, Roman Road, Win Hill, Ladybower Dam, Derwent Dam
Map: OL1 Dark Peak Area
Weather: Sunny, blue skies, cold
Walkers: Nun
Gallery
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Hagg Side. Looking To Lose Hill
Captain's Log
Warm Up
The good thing about this walk is that if you are cold at the start, you are thoroughly warm after about five minutes. In fact I almost broke into a sweat as I followed the path through the woodlands of Hagg Side up to the ridge. I was amazed at the height of some of the trees near the ridge; they were enormous. At the ridge I could see a hazy Lose Hill in the distance. The path then went immediately back down again, past Hagg Farm, to the Snake Road. I crossed the bridge over the River Ashop and then followed the track towards Ladybower Reservoir. There was no respite from the uphill though. Within minutes I turned off up into woodland following the direction of a fingerpost that promised a 'Roman Road'. There looked to be quite a few Storm Arwen casualties in this wood. One had fell across the path and required a bit of off-piste scrambling to get around. The woodland got thicker and thicker until it was almost dark. The place felt dead. I squinted and welcomed the sun light as the path led me to the Roman Road at the Hope Cross.
Jagger's Clough
Roman Road
A farmer was out mending a wire fence near Hope Cross. I made way for him as he then went by in his tractor and we exchanged solemn nods. My route was along the Roman Road that follows the broad ridge that would take me to Win Hill. The woodland initially prevented any view to the Ladybower Reservoir, but to compensate there were amazing views over to Jagger's Clough on Kinder Scout and down the Edale Valley.
I met a couple walking the other way and we started chatting. They said they had been up here yesterday and the weather was just as good as today. I told them about my misty, drizzly Black Hill walk yesterday, and how I could only see about 50 metres for most of the day. They were walking over to Kinder Scout today. I wished them a good day.
Throughout the day I noticed that the weather looked misty and grey to the west. I bet Black Hill was still enshrouded with mist today. Soon my path diverted from the edge of the woodland and I could see down on to Ladybower Reservoir and over to the twin peaks of Crook Hill.
Crook Hill
Win Hill Summit Trig
Win Hill Thrill
Win Hill has a rocky summit. As I approached the rocks I noticed a chap sat down just below the summit talking to his phone that was attached to the end of a stick. He seemed to be talking rather excitedly to the phone. I presume he was filming something for his website or YouTube channel, or whatever. I climbed up to the summit, and he followed me up, still chatting loudly at his phone. For one dreaded moment I thought I was going to be invited to an impromptu interview with him. I took out my camera and pretended to look busy taking photos. I'd nothing to fear though, since he scampered off beyond the trig, panning the camera around while giving a running commentary. He didn't seem self-conscious about what he was doing. In one way, he had my admiration; I don't think I could summon up so much enthusiasm talking into a phone.
It was an icy wind, but the views were so good that I lingered up there for a while. I tried to find a sheltered spot to have a peanut bar, but the wind seemed to blow in every direction. In the end I gave up and started walking down.
Ladybower Viaduct
Ladybower Reservoir
As I made my down through the forest to the reservoir I came across a chap sat down on a stone wall. He had a camera on a tripod. Intrigued, I asked him if he'd spotted anything. I presumed that he was filming wildlife. 'I'm taking pictures of this wall with my new lens'. It seemed a rather gloomy spot to be taking photos. Above him he had Win Hill with some of the best views in the Peak District, and below he had a stunning panoramic view of the Ladybower Viaduct, and here he was in a gloomy wood taking a picture of a stone wall. I wished him luck and carried on down to the reservoir.
At the reservoir I walked down to the bank side and took some photos of the Ladybower Viaduct. Some workmen appeared to be doing some repairs underneath it. I walked around to the dam and was disappointed to find that water was not pouring into the two overflows. Even so, they were still very impressive.
Thickwoods Brook
Derwent Dam
Derwent Dam
I followed the pavement around to the Ladybower Viaduct and then started down the track that runs along the east side of the Ladybower Reservoir up to Derwent. As to be expected on such a glorious day, there were plenty of people on this section. I was hoping that some jets might fly down the valley so I could get a dramatic photo, but there was no such luck. A group of aged ramblers were meandering around at Wellhead. It looked like one of them had somehow contrived to get dog muck on her rucksack and was trying to get it off with some wet wipes. Poor sod.
I may have not been in luck with the Ladybower Reservoir overflows but my luck would change with the Derwent Reservoir. I could hear the overflow before I could actually see it. The water overflows over the top of the dam at the Derwent Reservoir and makes quite an exciting waterfall.
It had been a perfect day for walking and I'd been privileged to see some of the best views in the Peak District. A day to remember.