The dam was constructed using large blocks of millstone grit quarried locally in the valley.
The 617 Squadron practiced low-level flight approaches here using bouncing bombs before the 1943 Operation Chastise raid.
The village of Derwent, which sat on the reservoir floor, was submerged upon the dam's completion, though remains of the village occasionally become visible during extreme droughts.
The valve house towers at the top of the dam are Grade II listed structures.
The construction of the Derwent and Howden dams necessitated the building of a temporary railway line to transport workers and materials.
Derwent Dam is a large masonry gravity dam situated in the Upper Derwent Valley within the Peak District National Park. Completed in 1916, it was designed to supply water to the East Midlands and Sheffield. The structure features two prominent Gothic-style towers that flank the central spillway. During World War II, the reservoir served as a practice site for the 617 Squadron, known as the Dambusters, due to its topographical similarity to German dams. The viewpoint offers a clear line of sight of the dam wall and the reservoir basin. The site is a key component of the Derwent Valley water collection system, which includes the Howden and Ladybower reservoirs.
The elevated path on the eastern side of the dam, looking directly across the face of the masonry wall.
Arrive early on weekends to secure a parking space in the nearby designated lots.
Bring binoculars to spot birdlife on the reservoir and examine the architectural detailing on the towers.
Do not attempt to walk on the dam crest if it is closed for maintenance or restricted for safety reasons.
The road running along the reservoir is occasionally closed to public vehicles during peak summer weekends; pedestrian and cycle access remains open.
Stick to designated footpaths to protect the surrounding moorland ecosystem.
