The reservoir level continued to drop and I could walk out to the ruins of the stately home of Derwent Hall, stepping gingerly across the muddy reservoir floor in the autumn sunlight. The path beyond the church that led to the school was also exposed, along with the little bridge that crossed the stream to the schoolhouse and its gateposts. There was an eeriness and melancholy in the piles of blackened stones.
Old photos of Derwent Hall revealed a grand panelled drawing room and ornate ballroom. Was there anyone left, I wondered, who remembered the lost villages of the Upper Derwent Valley?
Someone who could breathe life back into the damp, crumbling ruins? A friend pointed me in the direction of year-old Mabel Bamford, who lives in the village of Bamford south of the reservoirs. Mabel welcomed me into her home with an energetic step and sparkling eyes. There was no electricity, just a paraffin lamp in the living room. Candles were used everywhere else. The loo was an earthen closet a long way from the house. It had made the move easier.
We had to walk one-and-a-half miles to Derwent. Sometimes the shooters and beaters in grouse season gave us a lift.
But the rides we liked best were offered by the pipeline workers. I nodded. I had noticed the large pipes that span Ladybower at Fairholmes, where the visitor centre sits at the head of Ladybower.
They were easily big enough to hold a child. Ninety-two-year-old Mabel Bamford still remembers living in the village of Ashopton before it was submerged in the Ladybower Reservoir Credit: Helen Moat.
Bamford told me more stories: of the policeman who came to her house to berate her for stealing apples; and of the excitement in Ashopton when the petrol station owners generated electricity with a windmill-like contraption. I left Bamford, feeling privileged to have heard her first-hand stories of the drowned villages. One year on, the ruins of Derwent village have returned to the murky depths of Ladybower Reservoir.
Or with climate change, will its resurrection become a regular occurrence? Area Map. Nearby Villages. The Upper Valley of the Derwent is a deep valley surrounded by gritstone edges and dominated by three great reservoirs, constructed by the Derwent Valley Water Board primarily to provide water for Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham and Leicester.
Derwent Dam. View over Ladybower Reservoir. View down to Ladybower from Lockerbrook. When is it open? Open daily Easter - end October and winter weekends. Telephone The centre also offers bicycle hire tel: , toilets and refreshments.
What does it cost? Access is free, but many of the car parks are pay and display. Prices and opening times are shown as a guideline only and may vary. A minor road on the west side of this leads to Fairholmes.
At times every corner brought a new photo opportunity. The organisation was excellent and enabled me to concentrate on just chilling and riding. The roads were mainly car and pot hole free and as smooth as a billiard table. It was a delight to see rural France away from the big cities and immerse yourself into true French culture. David Giles The route was superb. To cross France with very little busy road riding and hitting so many superb sites was quite outstanding.
Stuart McCulloch From the first email of what we could expect through the route notes, GPX files, accommodation list to the very comprehensive logistics sheet. All three tour leaders were unselfish in the attention and ability to make sure all riders in the groups had a happy tour. Leonard Daly Found the first couple of days a bit of a slog at times, but every day was better than the day before.
Although I rode full distances every day the option of shorter routes was a good idea. Our tour guides worked really hard, to ensure whole group got maximum enjoyment. Dave Sutton Loved the variety , cleanliness and quaintness of the accommodation.
You choose well. My third trip so I suppose that tells all! Helen Walker We used the turn by turn notes, backed up by Garmin and Wahoo - belt and braces approach to navigation. Enjoyed the larger group. We naturally had our own group of six that cycled together at a similar pace, and joined in with others at other times.
Tony, Steve and Sam our guides were great, nothing was too much trouble, all we had to do was ride, eat and sleep.
Just need to decide which tour next…. Tracey Fretwell Beautiful scenic routes especially the latter half of the week. Picnic lunches were fabulous and lovely venues were much appreciated. The group size gave you the opportunity to cycle with lots of different people throughout the week.
First time with Peak Tours so was a little unsure what to expect. Trip was a fantastic experience and was just the right level for us. Andrea Marshall Route, tour team, and fellow riders all brilliant; why would you take a cycling holiday with any one but Peak Tours!? John Short Loved every minute of it, even the hard bits! The group got on very well together, and although it was big enough to split naturally into 2 groups we all mixed and mingled with everyone. Manisha The best accommodation I've had on any cycling trip.
It makes a big difference after a long day in the saddle. Very enjoyable both socially and cycling-wise. Good value for money. Mike Rosam We cycled along some beautiful glens and passes and enjoyed a good variety of landscape. Good to be off main roads in spite of rough surface at time. Great route. I prefer smaller groups but this worked well and made for an interesting tour as people mixed so well.
It never felt too big. Pauline Perry As you said in the marketing the route was challenging. The route notes and GPX second to none. It was a large group but well managed so no problems here. Helen Budd You don't go hungry on a Peak Tours trip! Large group but different abilities meant several subgroups that tended to ride together. Very comprehensive information for the pre-tour information. All tour leaders were great.
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