Exploring the Nature Reserve at Foremark

Image shows two women walking along a wide autumnal path with trees either side. — Visitors walking along the bridleway | © National Trust/Rod Kirkpatrick

Discover a countryside gem at Foremark, a 230-acre nature reserve with woodland, grass heathland and open countryside to explore. Whether you've visiting for scenic walks in the great outdoors or birdwatching and wildlife spotting, your adventure in nature starts here.

Winter in the Nature Reserve

The Nature Reserve has a beauty of its own in winter, transformed with dustings of frost, blankets of snow and the golden glow of sunlight peeking through the trees.

Winter walks

Head to Foremark to enjoy a breath of fresh air and calming winter landscapes. With a variety of waymarked walks, bundle up and enjoy a refreshing winter walk.

Reward yourself with a warming drink or snack from the refreshment kiosk, which is open every weekend from 10am (weather permitting).

Green walk

This 2.5km (1½-mile) walk takes you through along the Bridleway through Scaddows Oaks Woodland and joins the reservoir walk, where you might spot Great Crested Grebe fishing in the water.

Orange walk

For a longer walk at Foremark, follow the orange waymarkers to enjoy a 5.25km (3¼-mile) circular walk with some steps, gates and steep slopes. You’ll visit Carvers Rocks Nature Reserve, woodland walks and views across the reservoir.

Or broaden your horizons and follow the National Forest way, which runs through Foremark and extends over 75 miles from Staffordshire to Leicestershire.

Plan your walking route

View overlooking water at Foremark next to bare winter trees. — A winter view at Foremark | © National Trust/Steve Franklin

Winter wildlife

Look out for golden eyes, goosanders, herring gulls, Canada geese, and yellow legged gulls as you explore, as well as our year-round feathery friends, such as robins, blue tits and pied wagtails.

Mornings are particularly atmospheric at Foremark, as the large gull roost make a dramatic exit each morning. Listen out for their cries by the main visitor facilities as they fly off before returning in the evening to roost overnight.

The Bridleway

The Bridleway is a 2.5km multi-use linear route, offering views of woodland, hedgerows, farmland and across the reservoir. With a relatively flat terrain, the Bridleway is suitable for walkers, pushchairs, wheelchairs, cyclists and horse riders alike.

Share with care

Please be respectful of others around you, as we want everyone to have an enjoyable visit. As this route is shared by multiple users, we ask that you keep dogs on a short lead, including the nearby woodland, where dogs might then run onto the Bridleway.

Horse riding

The Bridleway is a great place to explore on horseback. Enjoy a peaceful ride along the compacted stone path and admire nature’s ever-changing scenery.

Horse riders are also welcome on a few of our other permissive paths, which are grass surfaced. Please look out for way markers showing multi-use paths.

If you’re looking for a longer ride, the Bridleway does connect to other public bridleways via short stretches of road riding.

Where can I park?

Horse boxes and trailers are welcome to use the dam wall car park during wet weather; however, when the ground is dry, please use the grassed areas along the access road to the dam wall car park. Remember to be considerate of other users when parking.

Carvers Rock

Carvers Rocks Nature Reserve is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its valuable geology and plant life. Here you'll find one of the last patches of lowland heath in Derbyshire, as well as veteran trees which provide valuable habitat for plants, birds, and insects.