By Does Your Duck Quack · Planning updated 27 October 2026
Derbyshire’s listed places allow a choice between open Peak District country, a large reservoir and a lowland wetland. On the Eastern Moors, the RSPB and National Trust partnership manages a broad landscape crossed by public paths and bridleways. Walks can take in grassland, moorland and wooded margins at different lengths. The RSPB names Short-eared Owl and Skylark, with its Sheffield group’s site guide adding Golden Plover and Curlew to the moorland bird selection. Carsington Water offers reservoir watching from a visitor-centre arrival within Severn Trent’s country park. Woodland, meadows, ponds and reedbeds border the open water, so the visit can include several habitats without changing sites. At Carr Vale, near Bolsover, the setting changes again to marsh, grassland, scrub and pools. The Trust’s winter selection includes Water Rail, Teal and Wigeon. Open water and the more concealed reed margins provide different things to watch from this lowland reserve. These choices give a habitat-led way to plan an outing: a moorland walk on the Eastern Moors, a reservoir visit at Carsington, or a lowland wetland session at Carr Vale.
Eastern Moors: Select a published walk and its nearest listed car park before setting out. Read the visitor access notes.
RSPB shop at Carsington Water: Arrive at Severn Trent’s visitor centre off the B5035 between Ashbourne and Wirksworth. Read the visitor access notes.
Where to stay in Derbyshire
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Ashbourne
Our base suggestion for comparing RSPB shop at Carsington Water with Carr Vale.
RSPB shop at Carsington Water: approximately 12 minutes / 5.6 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions
Road estimate to the mapped site approach; use the entry’s public-access directions for the final walk.
Carr Vale: approximately 50 minutes / 28.6 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions
Carr Vale: road estimate ends at the Trust’s Peter Fidler car-park grid reference, SK4613770606, off Riverside Way. Walk through the Peter Fidler reserve to Carr Vale.
Our base suggestion for comparing RSPB shop at Carsington Water with Carr Vale.
RSPB shop at Carsington Water: approximately 44 minutes / 28.0 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions
Road estimate to the mapped site approach; use the entry’s public-access directions for the final walk.
Carr Vale: approximately 4 minutes / 1.3 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions
Carr Vale: road estimate ends at the Trust’s Peter Fidler car-park grid reference, SK4613770606, off Riverside Way. Walk through the Peter Fidler reserve to Carr Vale.
Our base suggestion for comparing RSPB shop at Carsington Water with Carr Vale.
RSPB shop at Carsington Water: approximately 32 minutes / 18.9 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions
Road estimate to the mapped site approach; use the entry’s public-access directions for the final walk.
Carr Vale: approximately 31 minutes / 15.0 miles by road. Measured 2026-10-26; excludes traffic, parking and walking. Open road directions
Carr Vale: road estimate ends at the Trust’s Peter Fidler car-park grid reference, SK4613770606, off Riverside Way. Walk through the Peter Fidler reserve to Carr Vale.
Eastern Moors: Watch Short-eared Owl, Golden Plover. RSPB shop at Carsington Water: Watch for Kingfisher and Lapwing.
Which birds are associated with these Derbyshire sites?
Eastern Moors: Short-eared Owl — Typically year-round; Golden Plover — Typically spring and summer; Curlew — Typically spring and summer. RSPB shop at Carsington Water: Kingfisher — Typically year-round; Lapwing — Typically year-round; Buzzard — Typically year-round.
How do I reach these birdwatching places?
Eastern Moors: Select a published walk and its nearest listed car park before setting out. RSPB shop at Carsington Water: Arrive at Severn Trent’s visitor centre off the B5035 between Ashbourne and Wirksworth.
What visitor facilities are described?
Eastern Moors: Several third-party car parks serve different entrances, including Curbar Gap and Shillito Wood. RSPB shop at Carsington Water: Severn Trent operates the charged parking; RSPB membership does not provide free parking here.
What access information should I check?
Eastern Moors: Level access is identified at the Curbar Gap and Shillito Wood picnic sites. RSPB shop at Carsington Water: The shop is step-free, and wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be borrowed through the visitor centre.
Can I bring a dog to these places?
Eastern Moors: Seasonal lead restrictions apply on open-access land; keep dogs controlled around livestock. RSPB shop at Carsington Water: Dogs are welcome on leads, including inside the RSPB shop.
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