Derwent Reservoir Car Park
Consett DH8 9TT
Derwent Reservoir Car Parks, managed by Northumbrian Water within Derwent Waterside Park, offer a stunning, scenic gateway to the North Pennines on the border of County Durham and Northumberland. The area features multiple well-maintained parking bays distributed around the water, including the Visitor Centre (Main) Car Park, Dam North, Dam South, and Millshield Picnic Area. Known for breathtaking lakeside views, thriving wildlife, and dark-sky stargazing, it serves as a peaceful hub for walkers, anglers, and touring vehicles.
Motorhome & Campervan Stopovers
Self-contained motorhomes and campervans are officially welcomed for overnight stays at several of the reservoir's car parks, making it an excellent stopover destination.
Overnight Cost: £10 per night.
Payment Methods: Cash only at the specific car park ticket machines, or by card/cash inside the Derwent Waterside Park Visitor Centre during opening hours. Online booking is also available via Bookwhen.
Stay Restrictions: Maximum stay of 1 night in 7. Vehicles must be self-contained; strictly no "camping behaviour" (such as pitching tents, awning setups, or lighting external fires) is permitted.
Timing: Standard overnight permissions typically run from 8:00 PM until 9:00 AM.
Event Disruptions: Overnight van parking can be temporarily restricted at the Main or Dam North lots during major regional events, such as Derwent Fest in August. During these times, rangers divert vans to Millshield Car Park or the Dam South area.
Facilities & On-Site Amenities
The infrastructure caters well to day visitors and self-contained overnight stays:
Toilets: Well-maintained unisex public toilets are available at the main Visitor Centre and the Dam North car park, featuring hot running water. Portable toilets are located at smaller parking clusters like Dam South.
Services: There are no electric hookups (EHU) or freshwater filling stations directly in the standard car parks, meaning vehicles must rely on their onboard power and water storage.
Accessibility: Accessible parking spaces, accessible toilets, and level picnic areas are provided, with all-terrain mobility Trampers available to book on weekends.
Family & Pets: Features a large wooden outdoor adventure play park for children, numerous lakeside picnic benches, and a dedicated 12-acre secured dog running field where dogs can play off-lead. Elsewhere on the trails, dogs must remain on leads.
On-Site & Local Dining
The Visitor Centre Cafe: A self-service cafe serving hot and cold refreshments, sandwiches, meat pies, traditional sausage rolls, snacks, and ice cream. It sits alongside a retail shop stocking gifts, homeware, and angling essentials.
The Manor House Inn: Situated less than a mile away at Carterway Heads, offering a broad menu of British pub food and international choices.
The Derwent Arms: Located roughly 1.2 miles away in the village of Edmundbyers, known for its traditional atmosphere and grass-fed Sunday roasts.
Local Information & Activities
Derwent Reservoir is surrounded by vibrant natural landscapes and holds premier outdoor recreation status in the region:
Walking & Cycling: An 11-mile multi-user trail loops completely around the reservoir, ideal for long walks and cycling. The terrain blends smooth gravel paths, shore trails, and quiet local connecting roads.
Fishing: The reservoir is one of the UK’s top vibrant trout fisheries. Day permits, rod hire, and tackle are all available to purchase directly from the onsite fishing lodge.
Wildlife Watching: The park is a thriving habitat for rare fauna; visitors frequently spot red kites, fishing ospreys, rabbits, stoats, and weasels hunting near the wild meadows.
Dark Sky Stargazing: Officially recognized as a Dark Sky Friendly site, the lack of light pollution provides pristine conditions for viewing the Milky Way, meteor showers, and planets like Jupiter and Saturn.
