Dambusters Family Walk

Start from here

Fairholmes car park

The car park is well signposted on the Derwent Valley Road, off the A57

Driving directions

Postcode: S33 0AQ
Grid reference: SK 172 893
What3Words: intensely.branched.writers

Nearby facilities

Derwent Bike Hire, Repair and Service Centre

Routemap and directions

Download Dambusters Family Walk routemap leaflet (661.1 KB)

1. With your back to the Visitor Centre, pass tothe right of the information shelter and cross the zebra crossing. Turn right and walk around the edge of the car park, with the reservoir on your left. This route is marked by red arrows.

A Derwent village and several farms were flooded when the reservoirs were filled. Can you spot the remains of Fairholmes Farm just after you leave the car park?

2. Follow the path to the road, passing the site of the old Fairholmes Farm. Cross the road andgo straight ahead through the gate signed Lockerbrook.

B There was also a railway built to help in dam construction. Can you spot the remains of an old railway bridge as you walk up the hill through the woods?

3. Cross the concrete water channel and immediately turn right, eitherup the steps or by the short zig-zag ramp (signed to Derwent Dam)

4. Follow the path through the trees until it reaches the wider foresttrack and turn right.

5 Follow the track past the Derwent Dam view point, down through a gate and to the road.

6 Cross the road and turn right through the pedestrian gate. Follow the footway, with thereservoir on your left, to the reservoir viewpoint.

During World War II, the valley was used by pilots of the 617 Squadron for practising the lowlevel flights needed for Operation Chastise, commonly known as the “Dam Busters” raids.

7 After Derwent Dam, carry on along the road past the car park. The easiest route back tothe Visitor Centre is to follow the footway on the left of the road all the way down to Fairholmes. Or if you wish to stand at the bottom of the dam you can turn left part way along the car park and go down the steps (dotted route on map).

8 If taking the latter option, follow the path until it forks and take the left fork downmore steps to the road. Turn left over the bridge and cross the grass to the dam.

C. Construction of Derwent Dam began in 1902, but it wasn’t completed until 1916.

9 Finally retrace your steps over the grass, to the road and follow the road until you see apath on the left leading to the Visitor Centre.

Workers building the dams lived in a temporary “tin town” at Birchinlee. Almost 900 people lived there, and there were shops, a school and even a hospital!