Accessibility at Foremark

A signpost of the waymarked walking routes with visitors walking. — There's plenty of waymarked walks to explore at Foremark | © National Trust/Rod Kirkpatrick

Owned by Severn Trent and cared for in partnership with the National Trust, the reservoir and 230-acre nature reserve at Foremark is home to a rich diversity of wildlife, as well as Carver's Rocks, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. With its open spaces, woodland trails, a public bridleway and views across the water, Foremark is enjoyed by families, walkers and nature enthusiasts alike. Read more to find out how you can best access this special place.

Arrival and parking

There are two tarmacked car parks at Foremark, and grassed areas are used for additional parking on busier days, or when visitors prefer.
There are multiple payment machines, located in each car park. Parking is free for National Trust members and blue badge holders.
There are five marked, designated spaces for accessible parking in the main car park, but there are no marked spaces in the car park near the dam wall.
The nearest drop-off is in the main car park, which is less than 50m from the visitor facilities and has level access.
There are two family parking spaces in the main car park.

Facilities

There are ladies and gents toilets, as well as one accessible toilet.
There is a permanent ramp on the approach to the accessible toilet.
Lighting in all of the toilet facilities is a mix of natural and fluorescent lighting.
There are automatic hand driers in all toilet facilities: these are hot air dryers and considered quite loud.
In the accessible toilet, a pull cord alarm activates both sound and light.
Baby changing facilities are located in the accessible toilet.

Moving around the site

There are two way-marked routes, as well as other connecting paths that can be explored but are not waymarked.
The green route is 1.25km (0.7 miles) in length and the longer, orange route is 2.25km (1.4 miles).
There is a bridleway to the west of the reservoir, which is used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Many of the paths through the wooded area are uneven, with some shallow steps in places.
The dam view trail is 237m long. It has a hard, tarmac surface with a gentle slope. There are picnic benches along the trail.
There is a map to show these routes on the welcome signs in the two car parks.

Visitor purchasing refreshments from the kiosk at Foremark, Derbyshire — The refreshment kiosk at Foremark | © National Trust/Rod Kirkpatrick

Catering

The kiosk is located 16m from the accessible parking spaces.
There is no access inside the kiosk for the public; instead, all refreshments are available from two staffed serving points.
There is no dropped counter.
Staff will come out to provide assistance when required.
There are induction loops at the till points.
Double-handed mugs, large-handled crockery and straws are available on request.
There is level access from the main car park across grass to the picnic areas, located in front of the kiosk and near the dam wall car park.
The picnic areas include accessible benches, which have a larger overhang on one side of the table.