Rother Valley Country Park, spanning 740 acres across the Derbyshire-Yorkshire border, was created from former coal excavation sites and officially opened in 1983. The park features four artificial lakes, recreational activities, and nature reserves. The River Rother runs through the park, marking the county border.
The River Rother, originating in Pilsley, Derbyshire, flows north through Chesterfield and Rother Valley Country Park before joining the River Don at Rotherham, Yorkshire. Historically powering mills, the river became severely polluted by coal mining and industrial waste by the 1970s, rendering it lifeless. Significant investment in sewage treatment and the closure of coking plants led to its recovery, with fish restocking beginning in 1994. Plans exist to restore navigation in Chesterfield and create the Rother Link to connect the Chesterfield Canal to the River Don. The river's name likely derives from the Brittonic word for "water."
The lakes were filled with fresh water due to the polluted state of the river at the time. The park includes a visitor center at Bedgrave Mill, cable waterskiing, an Aqua Park, a licensed waterfront bar, a café, and a narrow-gauge railway.
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