CARSINGTON WATER
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO CARSINGTON WATER
INFORMATION
Location: On the south side of Carsington Water, follow the signs from the A517 Ashbourne to Belper Road, and on the north from the B5035 Ashbourne to Wirksworth Road.
Visit: Carsington Wildlife Centre is a short walk from the Visitor Centre Car Park. Here, you can watch Carsington’s birdlife in warmth and comfort, with helpful posters on the wall to assist you in identification. The weight of the turf-covered roof holds the building together without the need for screws or nails.
Refreshments: Mainsail Restaurant on the first floor at the Visitor Centre, Mainsail Café and Take-Away on the ground floor. Other food facilities are also available at Carsington Water and the Miners Arms at Carsington.
Wirksworth: The small town of Wirksworth may not make much impact on the busy traveller driving through. But visitors who have time to explore the narrow streets and maze of intriguing alleyways, admire the old buildings and lovely views, visit the ancient church and cathedral-like close, will soon find themselves falling in love with this fascinating old town. So much so that the town is fast becoming an important tourist centre. Even more so, following the restoration of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, the line runs from Wirksworth to Duffield through gorgeous countryside. A further short section of the line heads northwards to Ravenstor.
CARSINGTON WATER
The project to build Carsington Water started in 1980, but four years later, with the work at an advanced stage, the dam collapsed. Following a lengthy period of consultation, rebuilding commenced. The new dam contained more than twice the material of the old dam and doubled the width at the base. Completed in the autumn of 1991, the first water entered the reservoir on 16 October. The Control Tower operates the pumping system from the River Derwent at Ambergate. Water is pumped from the river at Ambergate Pumping Station, piped to Carsington Water during high river levels, and stored in the reservoir for release during periods of arid weather.
The recently refurbished Carsington Water Visitor Centre and its surroundings are great for a family day out. There is a sports and leisure centre, a sailing club, and a trout fishery for those looking for an activity to get involved in. Dogs and barbeques are welcome in the Country Park. Boat hire is also available, or you can hire a bike.
Stones Island, erected in 1992, is only a short stroll from the visitor centre. It follows in the long tradition in Derbyshire of hill-top monuments. The objectives of the site are to present a notable feature within the landscape when viewed from a distance and, when reached, to attract attention back to the surrounding countryside. Holes have been pierced in each of the stones to enable visitors to focus on features rather than just on the area. The heights of the holes vary so that even small children can enjoy the experience.
A circular path guides walkers around the reservoir and takes in the attractive conservation villages of Carsington and Hopton. There are slightly different routes for cyclists and horse riders. Bike hire is available from the Carsington Water Sports and Cycle Hire Centre. If you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, windsurfing boards are available. In addition, there is a very active sailing club, facilities for anglers and bird watchers. A varied programme of events is run by the centre throughout the year, with something suitable for people of all ages.
