Derwent Dam and Ladybower Dam Circuit
Nearly 25km of genuinely runnable, mostly traffic-free trail with almost no climbing - this is where to go in the Peak District when you want distance in your legs, not vertical.
Effort: Long distance, minimal climbing
Underfoot: Mostly paths and tracks
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A flat, fast 24.3km circuit of the Upper Derwent reservoirs, following gravel tracks around Ladybower, Derwent and Howden with 165m of climbing across the whole loop — a rare almost-flat big-distance day out.
Nearly 25km of genuinely runnable, mostly traffic-free trail with almost no climbing - this is where to go in the Peak District when you want distance in your legs, not vertical.
The route
This is the Peak District's flattest big trail run. From Fairholmes, the route runs the full perimeter of Ladybower, Derwent and Howden reservoirs on wide, well-maintained tracks - forestry road on the western side, quieter path on the east. There's barely a hill worth naming on the whole circuit, which makes it one of the few places locally where you can properly settle into pace over 24km without the terrain fighting you.
Derwent Dam
The Derwent Dam itself is the standout landmark, its curved stone face familiar from the Dambusters film - 617 Squadron practised their low-level bombing runs on this exact stretch of water in 1943, and the dam towers are open to the public on selected days. A little further round, Howden Dam marks the turning point of the loop, tucked into a quieter, more wooded stretch of valley that sees far fewer visitors than the Ladybower end.
Why it works
Because the gradient barely moves, this route is genuinely useful training rather than just scenic - long tempo efforts, marathon-pace blocks, or simply banking distance without your legs taking the usual Peak District hammering. It's popular, so don't expect solitude on a summer weekend, but the width of the tracks means runners, cyclists and other trail users coexist without much friction. On Sundays and bank holidays the road through the valley closes to cars, and the whole place feels handed over to people moving under their own power.
Getting there
Fairholmes has toilets, a cafe and plenty of parking, though it fills early on nice days. Winter is a good time to run this loop, since the flat gradient means ice is the main concern rather than exposure, and the low sun over the water is worth the extra layers. If you want more climbing in the same valley, the longer Edale, Mam Tor, Win Hill route starts from the same car park and takes in the surrounding ridges.
Shared use tracks get busy with cyclists and other visitors on weekends - stay alert on blind bends. Some sections ice up badly in winter given the exposure across open water.
Leave No Trace
- Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.
- Please respect the countryside and all its inhabitants.
- Dogs on leads near livestock, and around ground-nesting birds from March to July.
- Gates as you find them — open or closed, leave it that way for the farmer and the next runner.
- Take it all home — wrappers, peel, tissue, the lot. It doesn't count as biodegradable if you can still see it.
- Stick to the path where the ground either side is wet, planted, or nesting habitat.
Common questions
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