Derbyshire hot spots

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Hi, my wife and i have just booked a late availibility cottage in Hope /castleton in derbyshire,i was just wondering if their is any one the the forum who could help with some good nature reserve spots ,any good pointers would be apreciated.Thanks
 
Not nature reserves as such in my list, but there's a good variety of habitats I can think of..

Behind Castleton the land rises onto the limestone White Peak. Take the back road up towards Tideswell and you've plenty of limestone pasture and exposed rock. Plenty of interesting flora and fauna to watch for. Winnat's Pass is National Trust and worth an explorationk, although there are smaller and quieter habitats of this type off the main road behind Castleton.

To the north the ridge from Mam Tor to Lose Hill is the start of the gritstone Dark Peak. The ridge itself is well worth a walk along its length. To the north of Edale is open moorland. Avoid the tourist trail that is the Penine Way and instead walk up Ollerbrook and onto the moors that way. You'll rise from improved grassland, through unimproved pasture and onto the grouse moor at the top.

Take a drive to Grindleford and Chatsworth House and you can walk along the banks of the River Derwent.

The main dams above Bamford (Ladybower, Derwent and Howden) have coniferous woodlands, and along the road from Ladybower towards Sheffield there is broadleaved oak scrub, before again rising onto moorland.

The important bit.. get a good map and get off the main roads. There's more to discover of the White/Dark Peak than most people see. I used to see all sorts of wildlife from the car when nipping across the tops as I dodged the tourist traffic. Driving along the top of Pindale there were places you could pull over and walk with the scent of wild thyme underfoot and the pee-wits running around with their chicks, and you'd never see another car even in the height of the tourist season.
 
There is the Goyt Valley Near Buxton
 
Thanks for the replies,i have done quite a few long distance walks around and in the areas mentioned but never with a dslr,always with a compact....looks like a shall have quite a choice.
 
I would also reccomend Grindleford there is a great walk from the trainstation up to paddly gorge. The white peaks are amazing well worth a visit
 
It's just into Staffordshire, but The Roaches are worth a trip.

And +1 for Ladybower. Take some birdseed and the chaffinches will feed out of your hand.
 
The most reliable wildlife places are not particularly obvious but ...

Golden plovers near the Doctors Gate at the top of the snake.
Hares and Curlews a-plenty on the limestone flats west of Foolowe
Merlins and Short-Eared Owls over Starvehouse Moor
Dippers, Kingfishers and Water Voles on the River Wye around Monsal Dale
Barn Owls and Little Owls in and around Lathkill Dale near Monyash

There's also plenty of Buzzards, Lapwings and Skylarks about at the moment
 
Monsal Head and the whole of the Monsal Dale (can be a bit grockley)

Lathkill Dale, Start at my old home of Monyash and walk all the way down to Haddon Hall and then back up again. That will keep you fit with cards full of pictures.

When you're at Monyash take a trip towards Sheldon and have a look at Magpie Mine. See if you can find the duck tree.
Ashford in the Water is very 'pretty'

Truth is, when you're in the Peak District it's hard to walk three steps out of the car without tripping over a good view or something to photograph.

Wherever you go watch out for t'owd man.

As you're at Castleton try the Winnats Pass, Mam Tor, Back Tor, Peveril Castle.
 
the woods above Ladybower/in the upper Derwent valley are a bit of a hot spot for Goshawks. At the right time of year they'll display above the trees to make life easier for you
 
den said:
Hi, my wife and i have just booked a late availibility cottage in Hope /castleton in derbyshire,i was just wondering if their is any one the the forum who could help with some good nature reserve spots ,any good pointers would be apreciated.Thanks
Click to expand...

The pond around Lafarge Cement works is packed with wildlife
 
I would personally avoid the Goyt Valley and Castleton areas, I live within a stones-throw of both near Kettleshulme and there's very little (if any) genuine 'fresh' ideas that haven't already been done before.
Areas with the least tourists I've found have often been where the camera comes out, Lamaload Reservoir and its surrounding valley with Jenkin Chapel, Sponds Moor, Chinley Churn and Combs Moss are out of the tourist 'honeypot' yet offer just as good views.
 
RjLPhotography said:
I would personally avoid the Goyt Valley and Castleton areas, I live within a stones-throw of both near Kettleshulme and there's very little (if any) genuine 'fresh' ideas that haven't already been done before.
Areas with the least tourists I've found have often been where the camera comes out, Lamaload Reservoir and its surrounding valley with Jenkin Chapel, Sponds Moor, Chinley Churn and Combs Moss are out of the tourist 'honeypot' yet offer just as good views.
Click to expand...

That North Western area in general is very quiet, I agree, but still has heaps to offer. Add Cracken Edge, Mount Famine and Ulley Pike to that list.
 
Thanks chris,yes i do know that it's a waiting game and thier is no guarantee,in fact i never get much untill i visit a spot a few times ,i tend to search out the good spots and get a good idea what i may see.......then take it from thier.
 
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