Trail Running Planet · Peak District · Derwent Valley
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.
Distance
24.3 km
Ascent
165 m
Descent
164 m
Max elevation
301 m
Route type
Loop
Est. time
2h 45m – 3h 40m
Grade
Very Hard
Navigation
waymarked
Parking
S33 0AQ
Dogs
Welcome
Best seasons
spring, summer, autumn, winter
About this route
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.
Hazards & notes
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.
Emergency
Call 999 or 112 → ask for Police → request Mountain Rescue. Register Emergency SMS: text "register" to 999.
Full route, GPX download & live conditions:
https://trailrunningplanet.com/routes/england/peak-district/derwent-valley/derwent-dam-and-ladybower-dam-circuit
trailrunningplanet.com