Alvaston Park

The lake at Alvaston Park is the main draw, and it's genuinely worth the trip from Derby if you've got a morning to spare. This nature reserve sits on the edge of the city, and you get that proper sense of having escaped into somewhere wild - though you're really only ten minutes from the ring road.

It's a walker's spot, no question. The paths loop around the water, and in spring and autumn you'll see plenty of birds. Herons, grebes, the usual suspects. The reserve is managed with conservation in mind, so it feels less manicured than your average urban park. Families with older kids will appreciate it, though younger ones might get restless after an hour unless they're keen on spotting waterfowl.

There's woodland too - not vast, but enough to feel like you've ventured somewhere. The whole circuit takes about ninety minutes at a leisurely pace. If you're staying at Hill Farm Camping just down the road, or Field of Dreams Glamping a bit further out, this is an easy morning's outing before breakfast turns into lunch.

Access appears to be free, which is always a bonus. Go early if you want any chance of solitude, otherwise you'll share the paths with dog walkers and joggers. It's not dramatic scenery, but it's honest countryside on the edge of a Midlands city - the kind of place that reminds you why nature reserves exist.