Derbyshire Walks

Carsington Water Walk and Map

Carsington Water walk, Derbyshire
Carsington Water · Photo: Anthony Parkes

Carsington Water is a large scenic reservoir in Derbyshire. It takes it’s water from the River Derwent and is popular with outdoor and watersport enthusiasts. Here are 3 Carsington Water walks on the Derbyshire Walks App ranging from 4.25 miles to 8.5 miles in length.

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Walk information

Carsington Water Walk 1

Walk distance
4¼ miles
Time
2 hours
Route type
Circular

This is the shortest of the three walks from Carsington Water, a pleasant walk that travels along the northern edge of the water and then south through lovely woodland beside the reservoir. The route will then take you to the lovely conservation villages of Carsington and Hopton.

This walk does entail walking along a road which is not too busy but has no pavements. You will also have to cross a busier road a couple of times. If you want to avoid this you can miss out the villages and return along the footpath that runs at the north end of the reservoir.

This is a relatively easy walk with a bit of climbing in the woodland. The descent may be slippery in wet weather.

You can get refreshments at the Carsington Water Visitor Centre and there is a pub and tea rooms in Carsington.

Walk information

Carsington Water Walk 2

Walk distance
6½ miles
Time
3.5 hours
Route type
Circular

This pleasant walk includes some excellent scenery and the two picturesque villages of Carsington and Brassington. The walk also contains a short section of the Limestone way and the High Peak Trail and a rocky summit at Harboro Rocks.

There is some walking on country lanes and a 700m stretch along a busier road on this route, so please be careful here. You will also need to cross one busy road towards the beginning and end of the walk.

You can get refreshments at the Carsington Water Visitor Centre or there are pubs in both villages and tea rooms in Carsington.

Walk information

Carsington Water Walk 3

Walk distance
8½ miles
Time
4 hours
Route type
Circular

This is a delightful walk around Carsington Water, one of Derbyshire's most important tourist attractions.

The walk is mostly level on easy paths through fields and woodland so is ideal for the whole family. However, there are a few little climbs and the walk is quite long for little legs, but there are great places to relax by the water's edge on the way.

There is a great Visitor Centre with shops and an exhibition to visit along with wildlife hides en route.

The walk visits the lovely conservation villages of Carsington and Hopton but this entails walking along a road which is not too busy but has no pavements. You will also have to cross a busier road a couple of times. If you want to avoid this you can miss out the villages and stick to the footpath that runs at the north end of the reservoir.

You can get refreshments at the Carsington Water Visitor Centre and there is a pub and tea rooms in Carsington.

These Carsington Water walks start at coordinates: 53.072228, -1.62953

Navigate the walks

Derbyshire Walks App

Follow the Carsington Water walks with GPS guidance

It's like sat-nav, but for footpaths.

Choose a walk and follow the pointer showing your live position on the route map, so you always know you're on the right path.

The app works without a phone signal, so you can keep following the route wherever the walk takes you.

Download the app

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play

On a computer? Scan the QR code with your phone's camera to get the Derbyshire Walks app.

Derbyshire Walks app showing the walker's live position on a route map

Designed to be simple

  • Choose a walk and follow the pointer
  • See your live position on the route map
  • Works without a phone signal
  • Includes 250 Derbyshire walks
  • Free one-month trial
  • Available for iPhone and Android

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Expanded route map for Carsington Water Walk 1, a 4.25 mile circular walk in Derbyshire