11k Run High Peak: Stunning Views from Ladybower Dam

Route Overview & Local Insights

Tackling the Win Hill Loop from Ladybower Dam is a rite of passage for runners in the High Peak. This 11.1km circuit delivers a punchy 353m of ascent, characterized by an initial "short steep slog" that rewards your grit with one of the most iconic 360-degree views in the Peak District. Once you conquer the summit of Win Hill, the technical challenge shifts to a sustained, exhilarating descent down towards the waterline. The final stretch balances the effort with a predominantly paved, flatter finish along the reservoir, allowing you to find a rhythmic stride while soaking in the expansive Derbyshire scenery.

Steeped in local lore, Win Hill is famously paired with its neighbor, Lose Hill; legend says they were named after the opposing camps of a 7th-century battle. Running here means traversing a landscape defined by the dramatic Ladybower Reservoir, a feat of engineering that necessitated the flooding of the villages of Derwent and Ashopton in the 1940s. During particularly dry summers, remnants of the "lost" village can sometimes be seen, but for runners, the area today serves as a prime outdoor hub where the gritstone edges meet serene woodlands and deep valleys.