23 July 2009: Walking at Ladybower Reservoir

We decided to go for a circular walk today in the Peak District National Park. The weather was fine if overcast but ideal for walking. Our walk took us up through a forest to start and then up onto the Derwent Moors to Whinestone Peak. The views from the top were absolutely beautiful (see photo) and we could see for miles around. We walked along the peak to a natural feature called the wheelstones and then we came down the hillside back to the rim of the reservoir. The reservoir itself dates back to the 1940’s and prior to this it was the floor of the valley with a river called Millbrook running through it. Where the Derwent river and Millbrook met there was a village called Derwent. Unfortunately the village had to be sacrificed for the sake of the reservoir and in the mid 40’s after the war, the dam was completed and the valley flooded. There is a photo of the church spire sticking out of the middle of the reservoir in 1947, the last part of the village to become totally submerged. On our way back to the car, along the banks of the reservoir, we met a man fishing who told us that his wife had been the last person to be christened at the church before it was closed and flooded! After our walk we drove around the area, calling first at Ashford on the Water (one of the prettiest Peak Villages) and then Bakewell, home of the Bakewell Tart. We were impressed with Bakewell, it was pretty, well cared for, had a nice river running through it, lovely architecture and a fantastic little Italian cafe where we had our supper! The end of a lovely day.