Allpits Plantation

Walk into Allpits Plantation and you're suddenly away from it all - proper woodland, no faffing about. The forest sits just outside Chesterfield, and it's the sort of place where you can lose an hour without trying, following paths through dense trees with decent spacing for actual walking rather than bushwhacking.

It's a working plantation, so don't expect manicured grounds or visitor facilities. What you get instead is genuine woodland, the kind locals slip into when they want to clear their heads. The paths are manageable - nothing punishing - and the canopy's thick enough that even summer heat feels bearable. You'll spot the occasional forestry marker, evidence of the ongoing work that keeps this place going. Bring a dog and they'll be happy. Bring kids aged eight-plus and they'll manage fine. Younger ones might find it a bit samey after twenty minutes.

Allow an hour or so depending on which direction you take. There's no entrance fee or visitor centre - just turn up and go. Best done on a day when it hasn't rained for at least a few hours, since the ground can get boggy.

If you're basing yourself at Poolsbrook Country Park or Spire View Yurts, Allpits works as a proper morning out rather than a destination unto itself. Pair it with a walk into Chesterfield town centre and you've got yourself a solid day. It's honest woodland, nothing more, and that's exactly what makes it worth the visit.