Bonsall Wood

The woodland around Bonsall, just a short drive from Matlock, is proper walking territory if you know where to look. It's not a formal attraction with gates and a visitor centre - more a collection of forestry and natural paths that locals have been tramping for years. You'll find yourself among mixed woodland with decent tree coverage, the kind of place where you can actually lose the afternoon without thinking about it.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's ideal if you're staying at one of the caravan parks near Carsington Water, which sits about five miles away - you could easily combine a morning here with an afternoon by the reservoir. The woodland offers proper forest walks rather than manicured trails, so it suits people who want something a bit wilder than your average country park stroll. Families with older kids who don't mind uneven ground will be fine; toddlers in buggies will struggle.

There's no admission charge - it's open access woodland. Allow two to three hours if you want to actually explore rather than just dash through. The real value is stepping away from the busier spots around Matlock and the nearby parks. You're looking at quiet Derbyshire countryside here, the kind that justifies a weekend away. Spring and autumn are cracking times to visit when the light filters through properly and the paths aren't muddy beyond belief. Winter can be grim. Summer's pleasant enough if you don't mind sharing space with other walkers.