The Derbyshire Reservoirs

The four of us today had a quick trip up to see the Ladybower plugholes and the water pouring over Derwent Dam. It was my turn to drive and we set off at 06:30 in the mist and it didn't let up all the way. It took just over an hour to get there and we parked in the lay by just in front of the dam. A quick shot of the east plughole then a walk across the dam to the west plughole. Both of them were overflowing and the noise was quite loud. The mist was still hanging around and it was raining, although it was pre sunrise there was not a sign of any decent light in the sky.
We got back to the car then went further on over the Ashopton bridge and up the side of Ladybower until we got to our usual parking spot there just before the Fairholmes car park. We got booted up and walked up the east side and got some shots of the water flowing over the dam wall. We were soaking wet so decided to go back and sit in the bus shelter for our breakfast. Then a quick stroll up to the top of the west side of the dam and the monument to Tip the dog.

East Plughole

Looking downstream from the dam

The West plughole

East plughole

Derwent Dam

Ike, Rob and Geoff

The East tower, Derwent Dam

Me

West Tower, Derwent Dam

Derwent Dam

Derwent Dam from the west side

Monument to Tip

Rob, Ike and Geoff

Chart showing capacities

These looked like ski's but the had wheels on them

We got soaking wet this morning but thoroughly enjoyed seeing the water pouring out of the dams.

See you next week

Derbyshire Reservoirs - Low Water Levels.

Robs turn to drive in his new car and very nice it is too. We decided to go and look at the water levels in the reservoirs up at the dams so we arrived there at bang on 07:00 got booted up and off through the Fairholmes visitor site. We decided to go up the east side of the water because the light was in the right direction for photos. It was obvious as soon as we got anywhere near the dams that the water level was way down. I was there earlier this year and the water was pouring over the Derwent Dam, well today it has got to be a minimum of 20 feet below the wall. We just took our time and walked up to the Howden Dam where we had our breakfast. The basin in front of the Howden dam looked very dry with huge sandbanks.While we were having our breakfast we got talking to a chap on a bike who seemed to be very knowledgeable about the area. We then just ambled back and called in down to the "beach" to take a couple of pics building a cairn.

This weeks route up the east side of the Derbyshire reservoirs.

Smoke on the water.

Shaft of light coming through the tree's

Derwent Dam

Geoff, Ike & Rob

Rob, Geoff & Ike

Remains of the Ouzelden Viaduct 

Derwent Dam

Remains of the Ouzelden Viaduct

Ouzelden Viaduct before it was demolished. ( pic by Geoff Sheldon)

Geoff

Sunburst

Howden Dam

Breakfast time. Ike, Rob, me & Geoff.

Happy cyclist

Howden Dam

Howden dam gate

Me on the "beach" would normally be under about 20 feet of water.

Me topping a cairn

Rob trying to balance a rock

Finished cairn

Back to Derwent dam

This was February when the water was heaving over the top.

 This was a lovely walk just over 5 miles along generally level tracks with wonderful views over the reservoirs. You could easily mistake this area for Scotland with the big advantage there are no midges.
See you next week