Current situation
The River Derwent runs for 55 miles from Ladybower Reservoir in the north to the River Trent at Shardlow, South of Derby. For half its course it runs through the iconic Peak District National Park; a haven for outdoor activity, history and wildlife.
Although the River itself is physically navigable by canoe or kayak from the Derwent dams all the way to Shardlow there is only a 1km section that can be paddled without fear of confrontation or challenge with regards to rights of access.
The stretches through the Peak Park are highly disputed with regards to who has a legal right to enjoy the space. River access law is complicated and therefore there are consequently few recognised and accepted ‘put in’ points for canoeists.
Only a short section between Darley Bridge and Matlock is paddled with any regularity – but even this has not been without dispute in recent years. Users paddling the river are frequently confronted and told they have no right to be on the water.
Further down, paddlers are able to enjoy good access from Darley Abbey right to the confluence with the Trent, which is popular with the local canoe club and a host of outdoor activity providers.
From Cromford, the River is joined by the Canal, on which paddlers have limited access (by permission from Derbyshire County Council and with restriction on numbers). The canal runs alongside the river offering potential for touring ‘loops’.
The Peak Park covers 555 Sq miles and was the first to be designated a ‘National Park’. It is celebrated for its Gritstone Edges, moors and villages; but at its heart is the River Derwent, cutting its way through the Derwent Valley. While climbers, cyclists, walkers, hang gliders, horse riders, cavers and anglers are welcomed and can enjoy much of what the Park has to offer, canoeists and kayakers are not fully able to enjoy this beautiful landscape.
