Ladybower Reservoir is located in the Upper Derwent Valley in Derbyshire. It's the lowest, and largest, of three reservoirs here so if you care for waterside walking routes, you have plenty of options in this neck of the woods.
Speaking of woods, there are large areas of forest for you to wander through around the reservoir which are one of my favourite environments to be in (and I can pretend I'm a bona fide forest ranger...).
Fairholmes visitors' centre can be found at the northern tip of Ladybower, which has a refreshment kiosk and shop you can buy maps etc. The parking here is pay and display but arrive early as it's a popular destination.
We failed to find a spot so drove back out and managed to find free parking on the side of the road past the bridge on the A6013. As we were going to be walking in a loop around the water's edge, it didn't really matter where we started.
If you're bringing your dog, they must be kept on their lead as there are small flocks of sheep about.
Thankfully, it was a glorious autumn day and we enjoyed a good couple of hours enjoying the fresh air and beautiful vistas. There are several different walking routes to take, with some heading up on to the surrounding hilltops (but we're saving those for next time!). read more