Top 4 Lakes around Howden Reservoir

This lovely section of gravel takes you along Derwent and Howden reservoirs and ascends to Slippery Stones. It links with the gravel trail around Ladybower to the south and then onto the MTB classic Cut Gate in the north. The scenery is spellbinding along this section and beyond.

Howden Reservoir was completed in 1912. It's the highest of the three Derwent Reservoirs. The River Derwent flows into the northern arm and the River Westend flows into the western arm. After the Howden Dam the Derwent flows almost directly into the Derwent Reservoir and from there into the Ladybower Reservoir. You can walk most of the way around the reservoir but you can't cross the Howden Dam so to create a circular walk you need to loop Derwent Reservoir as well.

An incredibly enjoyable gravel ride across pine forests and fantastic scenery. Worth the trip.

Fantastic gravel section along the east side of Derwent and Howden reservoirs

Great place to stop and have a refreshments by the waterside.

Long stretch of mainly unsurfaced gravel road that starts at the turn-off from the A57 and steadily climbs up the eastern bank of all three reservoirs - Ladybower, Derwent and Howden. It crosses the bridge over the river Derwent at Slippery Stones and continues for a short distance on the opposite side until it eventually joins up with the tarmac road that runs along the western bank of the reservoirs and back down to the A57. It's undulating but not too challenging (by Peak district standards). For the most part it's a good surface so a great place to try out gravel riding if you're new to it. The bumpiest section is at the northern end just before Slippery Stones. The whole circuit is lovely but I prefer to climb up the gravel side and go back down on the road, stopping for a cuppa at Fairholmes kiosk. The surface is fine for touring bikes too.