Derwent Gardens

The Derwent Valley around Matlock has seen better days as a visitor destination, but Derwent Gardens remains a proper little oasis if you're camping nearby at Packhorse Farm or one of the other sites scattered across the area. It's a free garden - no entry fee, which is refreshing - and you're looking at somewhere between an hour and two hours depending on how slowly you meander and whether the weather's kind enough to sit about.

What you actually get is riverside walking, some planted beds that do their job well enough, and decent views of the valley. It's not going to blow your mind if you're expecting Chelsea Flower Show levels of horticultural drama, but for families with young kids or anyone after a gentle stroll between caravan pitches, it works. The Derwent itself is the real draw - you can actually get down to the water, which beats standing behind a fence.

Go on a weekday morning if possible. Weekends pull in day-trippers from Matlock proper, and the car park fills up faster than you'd expect for a free attraction. Spring's lovely here, though autumn's when the riverside really shows off. Winter's quieter but can get muddy underfoot.

If you're basing yourself at Darwin Forest or Hoe Grange further out, it's easily combined with a proper walk up into the Peak District hills. On its own, though? It's a pleasant break from camp life rather than a destination in itself. Worth an afternoon, certainly not worth special travel.