The Derwent Valley and its reservoirs

Ladybower Reservoir - the biggest in the Peak District, and the southernmost of the Derwent Valley reservoirs. You'll notice that it doesn't appear on my clickable map, which (to avoid copyright issues) predates the reservoir!

Looking down on Ladybower from the west, near Lockerbrook ... Stanage Edge is in the far distance.

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It's said that Kinder Downfall is the highest waterfall in the Peak District - though I believe the water in the Titan chamber of the cave-system near Castleton falls far further.

Either way, the dams of Howden and Derwent are probably more spectacular than any true waterfall in the area. The water flows straight over their parapets when the reservoirs are high - Howden directly into Derwent Reservoir, and Derwent into Ladybower but via a channel, such that you can stand almost directly under the falling water (above).

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Three pictures of Howden, the northernmost of the reservoirs.

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At Hollin's Clough, a little to the north of Derwent Dam, one can climb up towards the high eastern moors. Here we look across the valley, towards the snow sprinkled slopes beyond Derwent.

Lose Hill and the Great Ridge, seen from a spot not far from Ladybower.

Above and below: snowflakes falling gently at Derwent dam on a freezing winter's day.