# Foremark Reservoir
**Type:** Walk | **Location:** Foremark, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom
**Murphy Approved** ✓ — personally visited and approved by Murphy & Me
**Murphy & Me Rating:** 4.0/5 (space, sniff factor, facilities, ease)
## About
We arrived early — properly early — because it was forecast to hit 28 degrees and Murphy in direct sunshine is not a vibe anyone needs to witness 😅

The café wasn't open yet (turns out 7:30am is optimistic even by our standards), but the car park was already starting to fill. Foremark is clearly a popular one, and for good reason.

The paths are a mix of gravel tracks and woodland trails, with plenty of options to mix up your route depending on how much time and energy you've got. We stuck to just over 2 miles and it took us about an hour — though that includes the 47 sniff stops Murphy deemed absolutely essential for quality control purposes 👃

There's a hydration station right by the visitor facilities with a sign that says "VIP Station (Very Important Pooches)" which Murphy took extremely seriously. He had a long drink, assessed the setup, and gave a small nod of approval 💧🐾

The woodland sections are lovely — shaded, cool, and full of interesting smells that Murphy needed to investigate in great detail. There are some steep sections and steps in places, so it's not entirely flat, but nothing too challenging.

The one thing Murphy was NOT pleased about: no access to the reservoir itself. You can see it. You can walk alongside it. But you absolutely cannot launch yourself into it, no matter how convinced you are that would be the perfect end to the walk 🚫💦

There are picnic benches dotted around if you want to sit for a bit, and an adventure playground near the main car park if you've got kids in tow.

One thing worth knowing: the car park locks at 8pm, so don't get carried away with an evening wander and find yourself explaining to Severn Trent why your car is still there 🚗🕗

Poo bins, proper paths, shade, and a café (when it's actually open) make this a really solid option for a straightforward walk that doesn't require military-level planning.

## Murphy's Verdict
*Reviewed by Murphy, Cavapoo and chief sniff tester at Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit*
> "Excellent sniff variety. Very serious hydration station. Woodland paths that stayed cool even when Mum was complaining about the heat.

BUT.

All that water. Right there. And apparently I'm not allowed in it.

I don't make the rules, but I don't understand them either. 💧🐾"
## Highlights
- VIP hydration station — Murphy took this title very seriously
- Mix of gravel and woodland paths with different route options
- Shaded woodland sections — lifesaver on a hot day
- Car park locks at 8pm — don't get caught out
- No reservoir access for dogs — you can look, but Murphy cannot touch
## Dog-Friendly Features
Free-Parking, Woodland, Gravel Paths
## About This Review
Foremark Reservoir was personally visited by Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit, a trusted dog-friendly recommendation network covering Derbyshire and beyond. Every review is based on a genuine visit. No paid placements. Murphy approved where earned.
**Source:** [Foremark Reservoir on Murphy & Me](https://murphyandme.co.uk/walks/foremark-reservoir)
**Publisher:** Murphy & Me — The Dog Edit | murphyandme.co.uk
**Published:** 2026-06-29