Short birdwatching visit · Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Carr Vale
- Tier
- Good stop nearby
- Best season
- Winter for ducks and Water Rail
- Headline birds
- Water Rail · Wigeon · Teal
- Parking
- Use the county council’s Peter Fidler car park off Riverside Way.
- Hides
- Bird hides are listed among the reserve facilities.
- Step-free
- Wheeled vehicles cannot use the fishing platforms; no complete step-free birdwatching route is specified.
Bolsover · S44 6GA
Carr Vale offers a lowland wetland visit on the outskirts of Bolsover, with open water, marsh, grassland and scrub. The Trust names winter Wigeon, Teal and Water Rail, giving patient watchers reasons to check both open water and concealed reed edges. Summer and autumn bring a different emphasis as birds feed and gather around the marsh. Approach through the neighbouring Peter Fidler Reserve from the council car park, then remain on the concessionary paths. These access rules reduce disturbance and keep visitors in the permitted watching areas around the wetland.
Birds and seasons
- Water Rail · Headline bird — Winter Source for Water Rail
- Wigeon · Headline bird — Winter Source for Wigeon
- Teal · Headline bird — Winter Source for Teal
Plan your visit
- Hides and viewpoints
- Bird hides are listed among the reserve facilities.
- Paths
- Access is restricted to concessionary paths; there are no stiles.
- Toilets
- Not stated by the operator – check before travelling
- Parking
- Use the county council’s Peter Fidler car park off Riverside Way.
- Dogs
- Dogs must be kept on leads.
- Access notes
- Wheeled vehicles cannot use the fishing platforms; no complete step-free birdwatching route is specified.
- Step-free access
- Wheeled vehicles cannot use the fishing platforms; no complete step-free birdwatching route is specified.
Getting there: Start at the Peter Fidler car park off Riverside Way and follow the operator’s approach through that reserve to Carr Vale. Its map marker identifies the access point after the walk, not the parking bay.
Sources
Social preview: original typographic artwork by Does Your Duck Quack.
Nearby special trips
- Budby South Forest · 10.5 straight-line miles
- Eastern Moors · 12.5 straight-line miles
- Dearne Valley - Bolton Ings · 19.9 straight-line miles
Continue birding nearby
Nearest full guide: RSPB Sherwood Forest, 10.5 miles away in a straight line.
- Budby South Forest · 10.5 miles in a straight line
- Erewash Meadows · 11.8 miles in a straight line
- Eastern Moors · 12.5 miles in a straight line