Carsington Water

Just a five minute walk from Knockerdown is Carsington Water, a huge reservoir and activity centre that has everything you need for a great day out. The reservoir is set in amongst beautiful scenery with several trails around the reservoir, perfect for walkers and cyclists. 

It’s a great spot for bird watchers and from March to November the fishery is open! Carsington Water is a stunning trout fishery offering boats to hire in 750 acres of crystal clear waters. Its natural beauty, tranquil atmosphere, and exceptionally well stocked combined to make Carsington Water addictive to anglers. 

The water sports centre offers dinghy sailing – windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, raft building and paddle boarding. The sailing school offers an introductory taster session too which can be a great way to try it first. 

The visitor centre has several shops, a café for light refreshments and the MainSail Restaurant serving great food with views over the water. They serve breakfast from 10.00 am till 2.30 pm and lunch from 11.30 am to 4.30 pm. View their Menu.

There is also a large outdoor area suitable for picnics and BBQ facilities for those warm summer days and an outdoor play area for the little ones to enjoy.

Carsington Pasture is a beautiful area of grassland and woodland is located on the southern shore of the reservoir and offers a variety of walking trails. Visitors can admire the wildflowers and wildlife, as well as enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The pasture is also home to a variety of birds, including the skylark and the meadow pipit

Carsington Pasture Cave is a cave located in the Carsington Pasture area of the Derbyshire Peak District, in England. The cave is a limestone cave and is known for its impressive cave formations, such as stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is not open to the public and is used for scientific research and conservation. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is protected by law. The cave is also home to several bat species, including the greater horseshoe bat and the lesser horseshoe bat, which are protected by law.  Carsington Pasture Cave is managed by a partnership between Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and the British Cave Research Association. Both organizations are committed to protecting the cave and its unique ecosystem, as well as promoting scientific research and conservation efforts.

There are many popular cycling routes around the reservoir.

• Carsington Water Circular: This is a 8.5-mile route that circles the reservoir, offering beautiful views of the water and surrounding countryside. The route is relatively flat and is suitable for cyclists of all abilities

• Carsington Pastures: This route is a 8.5 miles route that takes you through the rolling hills and pastures of the surrounding countryside. This route is slightly more challenging than the circular route, with a few hills to contend with.

• Carsington and Dovedale: This is a 15-mile route that takes you through the beautiful Dovedale valley, passing by the famous Dovedale stepping stones, and returning to the Carsington reservoir. This route is a bit more challenging than the others with a few steep climbs.

• Carsington and Tissington Trail: This is a 13-mile route that follows the Tissington Trail, a disused railway line, from the reservoir to the nearby village of Tissington. The route is relatively flat and offers great views of the surrounding countryside

Walking around Carsington is very popular with numerous local walks. For a link to our hand details on local walks please visit this link. 

You can walk to Carsington Water from the cottages in about 5-10 minutes. From the bottom of the driveway turn right and walk up the roadside for approx. 100 yards until you see a gate on the opposite side of the road. Cross over here which takes you onto a path behind the Pudding Room, half way to Carsington the path ends and you will need to cross over the road on to another path and this will take you the rest of the way to Carsington Water.