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Exploring the Nature Reserve at Foremark

Image shows three women enjoying a walk through the woodland on a summer's day.
Visitors enjoying a walk in the woodland at Foremark, Derbyshire | © National Trust/Annapurna Mellor

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.

Spring at Foremark

Escape into nature at Foremark this spring and surround yourself with calming scenery, as new life unfolds all around you.

Spring walks

Blow away the winter cobwebs on a spring stroll around Foremark.

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.

Showers of white blossom next to a pathway
Blossom along the Bridleway at Foremark | © National Trust/David Goacher

Blossom

From March to May, showers of pink and white petals bloom at Foremark. Follow the green and orange waymarked walks to admire a show of apple, cherry, blackthorn and hawthorn blossom.

Spring wildlife

Spring is a time for new beginnings at Foremark, as migratory wetland birds return to nest here. Look out for blue tits and wagtails in the nooks and crannies of the refreshment kiosk. If you’re lucky, you might hear the chirps of chicks calling out for food, as their parents hunt for insects.

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.

Visiting with a dog?

Foremark is a great place to visit with your four-legged friend, with acres of woodland walks and open countryside to explore.

Please note that dogs aren't allowed in the water to protect them from unseen dangers in the reservoir and blue green algae. 

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