Drum Hill

The walk up Drum Hill rewards you with views across the Derwent Valley that make the climb worth every breath. It's not a massive peak - we're talking around 300 metres elevation - but the perspective you get over Belper and the surrounding countryside is genuinely impressive, especially on a clear day when you can see for miles.

The approach is straightforward from Belper itself, though you'll need decent shoes because it gets muddy in places and the final stretch is steeper than it looks from below. Most people manage it in an hour without rushing, which makes it ideal if you've only got a morning free or you're breaking up a longer walk in the Peak District. Families with older kids will handle it fine; under-eights might find the gradient a bit much depending on their fitness.

What makes this worthwhile is how peaceful it is compared to the honeypot peaks elsewhere in Derbyshire. You won't be jostling with crowds at the summit, and the industrial heritage of Belper below - the old mills and workers' terraces - puts the whole landscape into sharp focus. There's something rather moving about standing up there, looking down at a place that powered the Industrial Revolution.

If you're based at The Firs Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite nearby, this works as a proper half-day activity rather than just a walk. Free to do, naturally. Bring water and check the weather first - the wind gets up here and visibility can turn quickly.