Carsington Water is the ninth largest reservoir in England and at its highest level can hold 35,412 megalitres or 7,800 million gallons of water (enough to keep one person supplied with water for over 500,000 years!)

When full, the reservoir is 31m deep - the height of seven double decker buses!  At maximum capacity the reservoir is 300 hectares (741 acres). 700 football pitches could fit on the surface!

 

 

About Carsington

A peaceful little limestone village 2.5 miles from Wirksworth which has given its name to the reservoir at Carsington Water.

Adjoining nearby Hopton, Carsington was once a centre for lead mining and stayed virtually unchanged for centuries. The Gell family built Hopton Hall, which hides behind the "crinkle crankle wall", and also the old almshouses. Things changed in 1992 with the opening of the nearby reservoir and new road around the village.

Things to do; Hopton Hall opens its gardens to the public in February for a spectacular show of snowdrops and has open days for charity in the summer. In Carsington village, The Miners Arms is a fine 16th century inn. Nearby Carsington Pastures is a site of archaeological interest.