Best in Peak District

Bakewell

(This is a FOUR TRUNK swim)

 

Location

About 4km NW of Bakewell. Park in the car park with the toilet and follow the footpath on the opposite side of the main road downt to the river.

Grid Ref

?? 170/709

Features

Nice grass for sunbathing, easy access, reasonable depth.

Hazards

Some stones were a bit sharp (but what do you expect)

Date of Last Swim

Mid June 2002


Millers Dale

(The setting is a FIVE TRUNK, but unfortunately the swimming only TWO)

Location

The River Wye runs in gorge near Millers Dale (about Buxton near Millers Dale)

Grid Ref

TBC

Features

A lovely spot set in a gorge with easy access from the adjacent footpath.

Hazards

The bottom of the river is a bit on the silty side, its a bit on the shallow side and the proximity of the footpath means you are never short of a wisecrack or two.

Date of Last Swim

July 2002


North Lees, The old mill pond (Peaks)

 

Location

  • Approx 2km north of Hathersage and just below Stanage Edge. If you follow the footpath between Greens House and North Less you can’t really miss it. Assumed to be a pond feed by a spring and stream serving an old mill.

Grid Ref

  • SK233/838

Features

  • Well, its got it all: deep and shallow water, easy access, shade, grass for sunbathing and even a shower (where the dam is leaking). Even better on a hot Bank Holiday there is no queuing like you get at Hathersage Lido.

Hazards

  • None really, but watch out for tree branches and twigs under the water.

Date

  • 7th May 2018

Peakshole (nr Hope)

(The setting is a FOUR TRUNK, but theres not much room for swimming so it only gets THREE)

Location

Take the footpath along the river from the minor road that goes south next to the Church in Hope to Castleton cement works. The majority of the bends in the Peakshole Water (what a name!) for the next 1km have pools deep enough for a swim. The Peakshole Water (what a name, again!!) feeds into the River Noe.

Grid Ref

SK 170/833

Features

Easy access and plenty of grass for sun-bathing. One of the meanders even has a rope swing.

Hazards

Unfortunately many picnic goers leave their rubbish behind. I removed a bottle of red wine (sadly I was driving as it still had some of its contents) from the river and the bank in places has a sprinkling of rubbish.

Date of Last Swim

24th April 2004


River Derwent (nr Grindleford)

Location

Park in Grindleford near the bridge (or a bit further away near the café/train station) then take the Hathersage footpath which roughly follows the river for a few fields. There are several pools by small dams in the river which are “just about” suitable for a swim. Unusually the best depth for swimming is downstream of these!

Grid ref

SK238/798 (approx. as just off my map)

Features

Lovely location and handy for the Grindleford Café, but space for swimming is limited.

Hazards

The Grindleford Café!!

Date of swim

19th July 2015


River Derwent (Slippery Stones, nr Lady Bower)

(This is a FOUR TRUNK swim)

Location

At north end of Howden Reservoir (near the better known Lady Bower reservoir) **km west of Sheffield. Park at the “top car park” by the National Park Information Centre and walk or cycle all the way to the top of Howden. The River Derwent flows in to the reservoir at the very north end. There is a pool c. 100m to the north of the footbridge over the river at Slippery Stones. Strangely its not a spot that is well known despite being so near to the footpath.

Grid Ref

SK168/955

Features

Good depth and quiet spot. Only small but with plenty of sunbathing grass.

Hazards

None really.

Date of Last Swim

3rd August 2003


Youlgreave

(A TWO TRUNK  location)

Location

tbc

Grid ref

tbc

Features

Hazards

Date of swim

?10th July 2011