Carsington Water

Address: RSPB Shop, Unit 1, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1ST

Grid ref: SK241515

Owned and managed by Severn Trent Water, Carsington Water is a large reservoir surrounded by wildflower meadows and native woodlands, ponds and reedbeds. Explore on your own or get some birdwatching advice from our staff in the RSPB shop, where you can watch for buzzards, kingfishers and lapwings.

Plan your visit

This reserve is open 10am - 6pm during the summer and 10am - 5pm in winter.

Free entrance to RSPB members: Yes

Adults: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Children: Free, but donations are very welcome.

Car park cost

The main car park costs £2.50 for three hours or £4.70 for the whole day.
Sheepwash car park costs £1 for up to two hours or £2.50 for the whole day.
Millfields car park costs £2.50 per day.
There is no free parking for RSPB Members.
Those wishing to just visit the RSPB shop can park for free.

Facilities

Visitor centre
Car park
Toilets
Accessible toilets
Baby changing
Pushchair friendly
Cafe
Picnic area
Viewing point
Shop

Accessibility

How to get here

By train

Matlock Bath is the closest station, about 6 miles away. You can catch a bus from there to Carsington.

By bus

Buses run to the Carsington Water car park from Ashbourne, Wirksworth, Matlock and Chesterfield.

By road

The visitor centre is off the B5035 between Ashbourne and Wirksworth. Look out for the brown and white 'Carsington Water' signposts throughout the local area.

Sat nav POI file: If you have a satellite navigation system that can accept POI files, please see our POI page for a download link and instructions.

Get directions from Google Maps

RSPB reserves on Google Earth

22 degrees, Partly cloudy (day)

Contact Carsington Water

RSPB Shop, Unit 1, Carsington Water Visitor Centre, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1ST
carsington.water@rspb.org.uk
01629 541842

What will you see?

Our star species

Buzzard

Listen for their mewing calls, or keep an eye out for them as they soar overhead on sunny days.

Great crested grebe

Watch the amazing courtship ritual of great crested grebes on the open water in spring.

Kingfisher

Spend time in the hides and you may be rewarded with an unforgettable kingfisher encounter.

Lapwing

In spring, lapwings breed here. Visit then and you'll see their weird and wonderful displays.

Tufted duck

This diving duck is a common breeding bird here. Look out for broods of brown ducklings in late spring and summer.

Get great views of ducklings from the Severn Trent Wildlife Centre. Look out for kingfishers catching fish for their young. As the weather starts to warm up, cycle or walk the eight miles around the reservoir.

Over summer, you might spot a buzzard soaring across the reservoir. The meadows are illuminated with wildflowers such as bee orchids, yellow rattle and buttercups. You can also go sailing on the Severn Trent reservoir.

In autumn, watch out for flocks of floppy-winged lapwings flying overhead and little grebes on the reservoir.

Watch out for scarcer birds like the great northern diver, which should be on the coast.

About Carsington Water

Habitat

Carsington Water boasts a range of wildlife habitats from ancient hedgerows, species-rich wildflower meadows and native woodlands, to pond and scrapes, reedbeds and contains carefully-managed islands.

Conservation

Carsington Water is owned and managed by Severn Trent Water. Since its construction, there have been more than 215 bird species and more than 30 mammal species recorded.

Site information

Carsington Water is a large reservoir.

Activities and events

Leisure activities

There are extensive opportunities for outdoor activities including cycle hire, picnic areas, a climbing wall, adventure playground and sailing club.