Ladybower Reservoir Circular 1

The following prices apply for this walk:

This walk is easily accessible by car from Sheffield and Manchester, as it is just off the A57 Snake Pass. From Derby and Nottingham, it can be accessed via the road through Chatsworth Park to Grindleford, Hathersage and Bamford, or via the M1 to Chesterfield and then cutting cross-country from there. Pay-and-display car parking is available at the Upper Derwent Visitor Centre, with some limited free parking at the roadside on the way from the A57 to the Visitor Centre.

Public transport options for this walk are very limited. Bamford Railway Station is on the Hope Valley Line between Sheffield and Manchester, but the station is 5.6 miles from the start point of the walk, which means that the total distance of the walk plus getting from and to the station would be over the range capability of many electric scooters. On summer Sundays ONLY, the 257 bus service between Sheffield and Bakewell does call at Bamford Railway Station and then the Upper Derwent Visitor Centre, but this is a very popular service and the only public transport link direct to the start point of the walk. On other days of the week the 257 service just runs between Sheffield and Bakewell, dropping off and picking up at the Heatherdene bus stop alongside the main southern section of Ladybower Reservoir, which is just over 3 miles from the normal start point of the walk.

If public transport is your only option and you wish to do the walk on a weekday or Saturday, then please contact us via e-mail and we can modify the walk to begin and end at the Heatherdene bus stop. By doing this, it only adds just under 1.5 miles to the total length of the walk, making the total distance around 7.5 miles.

In dry conditions, this walk can be done in and sensible outdoor footwear. However, we always recomend proper walking boots or trainer-style walking shoes where possible. As with all of our walks, we recommend that you bring waterproofs with you, plus water and a few snacks to help keep you going. in cold weather, please don't forget a hat and gloves. In hot weather, we recommend that you bring a sun hat and sun cream. Apart from those basics, you shouldn't really need much else, as this is a very simple walk with good facilities at the visitor centre where the walk starts and finishes.

This walk is specifically designed to be as accessible as possible to persons of reduced mobility, especially users of wheelchairs and mobility scooters. The surfacing all around the route is good, combining packed earth and fine gravel with tarmac and other paved surfaces. There are no stiles or significant steps, and all road crossings feature dropped kerbs. The only real accessibility issue with this walk is the problem outlined above regarding the lack of suitable public transport in the week and on Saturdays. However, as also outlined above, this can be addressed by modifying the route of the walk to start and end at the Heatherdene bus stop.

If you would like to do this walk, but do not have your own mobility scooter, or think that the one you have may not be up to the challenge, then the Upper Derwent Visitor Centre has two "Tramper" all-terrain mobility scooters that can be hired via an advance booking. They can be booked by calling the Visitor Centre on 01629 816527, and more information on hiring them can be found online here.

This walk is suitable for dogs. However, due to the popularity of this route and the number of cyclists using it, we always recommend that you keep your dog on a lead and under close control at all times. This is especially true when crossing Ashopton Viaduct, as the road can be very busy with fast-moving traffic and there are no barriers between it and the pavement.

You can book places on any of our scheduled walks via the PayPal button below. Other payment options are available on request - Please e-mail us for details if required.

If you wish to make a Personal Walking Guide booking for this walk, please see our Personal Walking Guide booking page here.

Bookings for scheduled walks can be made at any time up to 48 hours before the intended date of your walk, or up to 72 hours beforehand for Personal Walking Guides. We regret that we cannot accept bookings made less than 48 hours prior to the planned start time of the walk (72 hours for Personal Walking Guide bookings).

Please ensure before booking that the date you require is not listed below and on our online calendar as unavailable or fully booked, and that you have read and agree to our terms and conditions.