Derwent Reservoir is a prominent outdoor destination, known for its diverse landscapes that cater to a wide range of activities. The region features expansive waters, peaceful forests, and varied terrain, including moorland and gritstone edges. This geographical composition makes Derwent Reservoir an ideal location for several sports like hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, touring cycling, and more, offering both gentle paths and more challenging routes. The area's natural features provide a dynamic backdrop for outdoor pursuits.
153
Routes
4.6
(2031)
Average rating
18593
People visited

4.4
(282)
1,872
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(164)
961
hikers
12.8km
03:46
340m
340m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(182)
923
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(71)
244
hikers
21.3km
06:34
740m
740m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.6
(130)
917
riders
26.0km
02:26
590m
580m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.7
(40)
489
riders
40.0km
03:42
900m
910m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.8
(62)
517
riders
34.1km
02:58
760m
760m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.6
(29)
126
riders
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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4.9
(79)
1,227
riders
27.0km
02:01
360m
360m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

85
riders
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.8
(37)
624
riders
16.9km
01:15
190m
200m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.7
(3)
517
riders
31.0km
02:37
540m
540m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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4.0
(2)
180
riders
94.4km
05:05
1,750m
1,750m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

60
riders
84.1km
04:39
1,480m
1,470m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.5
(2)
36
riders
94.4km
04:58
1,480m
1,480m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.8
(6)
81
riders
31.6km
01:52
660m
660m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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5.0
(1)
129
runners
34.8km
04:14
670m
670m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

5.0
(4)
103
runners
12.3km
01:33
340m
340m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

4.7
(3)
70
runners
26.7km
03:31
820m
830m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

5.0
(1)
94
runners
13.3km
01:42
460m
460m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.
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4.9
(11)
87
riders
16.8km
00:57
200m
190m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(11)
90
riders
17.8km
01:00
210m
210m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
riders
40.5km
03:13
790m
790m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.5
(2)
13
riders
25.4km
01:46
580m
580m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
3
hikers
17.9km
05:27
560m
560m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4
hikers
8.60km
02:53
380m
380m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(1)
2
hikers
11.0km
03:35
430m
430m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

2
hikers
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Derwent Reservoir offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Hiking, Road cycling, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Jogging, and Gravel biking. The area features diverse landscapes suitable for different types of outdoor pursuits.
Popular hiking trails include circular walks around the reservoirs and ascents to natural rock formations on Derwent Edge, such as The Cakes of Bread. The 10-mile (16 km) circuit of Derwent and Howden Reservoirs is a well-known route. More information can be found in the Hiking around Derwent Reservoir guide.
Yes, Derwent Reservoir offers family-friendly walks, including easy strolls around the reservoir edges. These routes are suitable for various fitness levels. Consult the Family-friendly hikes around Derwent Reservoir guide for specific options.
The Upper Derwent Valley provides a network of cycling routes for road, touring, and mountain biking. Cyclists can enjoy circuits around the three reservoirs (Derwent, Ladybower, and Howden) on a mix of off-road trails and minor roads. Guides like Road Cycling Routes around Derwent Reservoir offer detailed information.
Yes, Derwent Reservoir features challenging mountain biking trails, such as the Lockerbrook Descent, which is a fast singletrack route. Gravel trails like the Derwent and Howden Reservoirs — Gravel Trail also offer scenic views. For more details, refer to the MTB Trails around Derwent Reservoir guide.
Key landmarks include the three large dams (Ladybower, Derwent, and Howden) and natural rock formations on Derwent Edge like The Coach and Horses (Wheelstones) and The Salt Cellar. The remains of the flooded Derwent village can sometimes be seen when water levels are low.
Derwent Reservoir offers dog-friendly routes, allowing visitors to explore the area with their pets. It is important to keep dogs under control, especially near livestock. Specific dog-friendly options are detailed in the Dog-friendly hikes around Derwent Reservoir guide.
A popular circuit around Derwent and Howden Reservoirs is approximately 10 miles (16 km) long. This route follows well-made paths and lanes, suitable for both walking and cycling.
Komoot offers several guides for Derwent Reservoir, including those for Hiking, Road Cycling, MTB Trails, and Family-friendly hikes. There are also guides for Dog-friendly hikes and Running Trails.
Derwent Reservoir is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 599,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The routes available have an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 83,000 ratings.
For Derwent Reservoir in the Peak District, information is typically found through the Peak District National Park website. The Fairholmes Visitor Centre serves as a key starting point for exploring the Upper Derwent Valley. General inquiries for Peak District National Park can be made by calling +44(0)1629 816200.

