We spent October half term in the Peak District, it was absolutely amazing. We stayed in a cottage very close to Carsington Water (details here), and we used our first day walking around it. It was exactly what we needed: calm views, wide open paths and the kind of fresh air that instantly melts away the noise of everyday life. We chose this walk because it’s gentle, accessible and perfect for a family day out without needing to commit to a challenging climb (but we did include a challenging climb).
We followed one of the shorter circular sections around the reservoir, sticking close to the water for most of the walk. The paths are wide and flat, making it ideal if you’ve got little legs with you or want a route that’s easy to pace. The scenery changes constantly — woodland, open water, wildlife areas and stretches where you can see the hills reflecting on the surface. We added a bit to the route by walking from our cottage that was up a high hill, it added a steep climb and an extra 2 hours to the walk. The route we followed is below:
The purple stars indicate where the photos in this post are taken!
There are plenty of spots to stop for snacks, and we found a lovely viewpoint that felt almost too peaceful for such a popular location. What I loved most was how quiet it felt once we moved further away from the visitor centre, even though it was a busy day. It was one of those walks where no-one rushed and everyone genuinely enjoyed just being outside together.
If you’re planning a visit, I’d recommend arriving earlier in the day to avoid the busiest periods and making time to explore the visitor centre afterwards. It’s a great place to ease yourself into the Peak District if you’re not familiar with the area.
In total our walk was just over 5 hours, ew stopped for lunch on the east side of the lake and stopped at the visitors centre for a hot drink too. It was a beautiful walk, from the top of the hill to the bottom at the dam. The total distance we walked was 18.73km.
If you enjoy family walks like this, you might also enjoy reading about weaselling in the Peak District. I’d love to know if you’ve visited Carsington Water too, so feel free to leave a comment.
