Experiencing The Ladybower plug holes for the first time

So I'll set the scene, its mid March 2019 and I spot something while scrolling through instagram. My first thoughts are this must be an old story from last year, but I had to be sure so I began trying to find some more recent posts from Ladybower and against what was generally predicted water had actually begun flowing down the plug holes!

Ladybower Reservoir is a large Y-shaped reservoir, the lowest of three in the Upper Derwent Valley in Derbyshire

Now the Upper Derwent Valley is full if amazing spots the Howden and Derwent Dams home of the Dam Busters, but what got me excited was its two overflows or "plug holes" that after seeing some amazing shots of I really wanted to witness in person. So upon discovering this on Friday we set off the next morning nice and early on route to Heatherdene car park which is on the A6013 just beside the reservoir. This is generally quite a popular spot as is perfectly located for Ladybower and the surrounding area along with having good toilet facilities, so was a bit nervous about finding a parking spot. Coming down the road to Heatherdene it did feel a little quiet, for a second I entertained the thought that perhaps not as many people as I thought were aware of what was happening here right now, but didn't want to get carried so rubbished that thought. We turn off the A6013 up the steep hill into Heatherdene car park again nervous of what awaited us, but to my shock the car park was barely half full! We park up, booted up and with off we go towards the plug holes. At this point the sun was shining still a little chilly but you could not have predicted the weather changes that were about to take places. After only 5 minutes it began to snow ... yes snow! followed by hail and then again bright sunshine all in the space of a few minutes little did I know this would be the theme of the day. Along the path from Heatherdene to Ladybower I began to hear what sounded like a busy main road, but the road was relatively quiet I looked to my wife and said like an excited child at Christmas " it's the plugholes" from a viewpoint along the path I got a glimpse of the amazing plug hole water gushing down with such power. Onwards across the road and there it was, the jaw dropping spectacle of the amazing plug holes of Ladybower. There was hardly anyone about maybe two small groups of people one of which were bravely or stupidly you decide trying to fly their drone in some unfriendly conditions, needless to say it did not go well for them. The high walls prevented my getting a good enough composition so decided to make our way over to the opposite plug hole. Mother nature had decided again to put its own show on and again came a crazy hail storm and with no where to shelter we had to brave it and keep moving, hail bouncing off us and pinging against my tripod which the kids found hilarious. Then the hail passes and again blue skies and bright sun breaks out just as I set the tripod up and prepare for a long exposure of the plug hole.

The Thunderous Plug Hole Of Ladybower

At this point another photographer had made their way here and began to get their shots too with only a few other people walking past, still very quiet leaving me feeling very lucky to have this spot pretty much to myself. I get a few more shots try a few compositions and then decide to stop and just admire the sheer force of the thing. My wife now holding our 2 year old son to see over the wall while our 6 year old daughter equally in awe watches on.

The sound of the water plummeting through the overflow and out towards the river derwent has sent my son to sleep in my wives arms which we did not see coming. We decide to walk on from the plug holes that now a few more people had now gathered by. After finding a spot beside the reservoir for lunch we start our walk back. Only maybe and hour and a half later but much more people had descended upon ladybower at the plug holes, at least five photographers, tripods and filters jostle for the best composition I smugly walk by stopping to say so long to the plug holes until next time.

Just after passing the plug hole walking across the ladybower dam the clouds darken and snow and hail pelt us again. I braved it to try and grab a few shots thinking no one is gonna believe this without proof.

Snow and Hail Batter Down

As we cross the road to take the path back to the car again the sun breaks. Back at the car I have a quick look at some of the shots I got upload a quick story to Instagram and we decide to call it a day and we set off home leaving what was now a very busy ladybower behind us. This is one of if not the most satisfying days since starting photography I have experienced. If your thinking of visiting the reservoir I have found the car park at Heatherdene is brilliant for the ladybower end and for the Derwent and Howden Dams Fairholmes visitor centre is a great spot offer toilets and a coffee shop for convenience.