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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Derby day out, carsington water, Staunton Harold Reservoir and Foremark Reservoir

10 replies

Honeybu · 27/08/2023 23:39

I’m looking for a nice day out tomorrow with kids 6 and 7. Not been to any carsington water, Staunton Harold Reservoir and Foremark Reservoir. Kids activities beautiful scenery and things to do which one is best . Also are they free entry is there a car park? Thank you

OP posts:
distinctpossibility · 28/08/2023 07:11

If you have National Trust membership then Staunton Harold is free. You can also park at nearby Calke Abbey and do the pretty 1.5 mile walk over. It's on the Calke website. There's an NT cafe.

Foremark is nice too and likely to be the quietest of the three but Carsington is the only one that's really special imo. It has a museum in the visitor centre which would take about 45 mins, nice choice of ice creams and a very decent play areas by the Visitor Centre car park. It'll cost around £6 to park for 4 hours.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 28/08/2023 07:29

I love Carsington. Busy little visitor centre, with cafe, exhibition about water/reservoirs, ice cream, little outdoor clothing shop (Seasalt/Joules rather than Mountain Equipment); big playground, lots of space to run around, picnic benches and shelters, walks and bike rides, nice scenery.

But I haven't been to any of the other places you've listed.

CatsOnTheChair · 28/08/2023 07:32

Carsington with kids.

Think formark is free with NT membership as well as Staunton. But otherwise all 3 are paid parking.

steelseries · 28/08/2023 07:35

I would go to Calke - you can then use Calke Explore (the adventure playground) or walk up to the Abbey itself. If you park there you can walk to Staunton Harold Res which also has a big playground. I'd leave Foremark Res, it's nowhere near as nice as Calke and gets overrun on bank holidays.

Original poster
Honeybu · 28/08/2023 07:47

Thank you so much 😊 everyone will do Staunton Harold or carsington. For carsington is £6 all day as I don’t have NT membership so have to pay parking, will the meseum be open on bank holiday? Many thanks for your help

OP posts:
Londonnight · 28/08/2023 07:47

I love Carsington water. Car park is usually fairly expensive, though the area itself its free to wander around. Loads to do with children. There is a nice play park there, lots of water activates [ you have to pay for these ]. Lovely ice cream there as well.

beakyboo10 · 28/08/2023 07:54

I think Carsington parking is £7 for the day but worth it for the play area and lovely walks. My kids have been loads over the holidays and sometimes we call in at Ashbourne and walk along the Tissington Trail. Carsington will probably be very busy on a bank holiday but has a massive car park (and nice toilets).

WGACA · 28/08/2023 08:06

Carsington Water is great. I haven’t been to the other two places though. There’s a short walk with interactive activities for kids on the way round. The play park looks great and there’s an ice cream shop. I think parking is £7 if you’re going for the whole day.

Useyourfork · 28/08/2023 08:22

There’s also paddle boarding, other watersports and cycle hire at Carsington 😊

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