Errwood Hall

The ruins of Errwood Hall sit deep in the Goyt Valley, about three miles south of Buxton, and reaching them means a proper walk through woodland - no quick five-minute job. What you find at the end is a Victorian mansion reduced to stone foundations and a few standing walls, submerged beneath ivy and time. The hall was deliberately flooded in the 1960s when the Goyt Valley was dammed, so what remains is fragmentary and atmospheric rather than grand.

It's the sort of place that appeals most to walkers and history buffs - people who enjoy piecing together a story from ruins rather than expecting a finished visitor experience. Families with young children might find the trek underwhelming unless they're genuinely keen on exploring off the beaten track. Allow a good two hours for the walk there and back, with time to poke around the site itself.

The approach matters as much as the destination here. You'll pass through the Goyt Valley itself, which is beautiful on a clear day, and the ruins feel properly remote and forgotten - no crowds, no gift shop, no café. It's free to access, which helps, though you'll need decent shoes and some navigation skills.

If you're camping at Buxton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or staying nearby, Errwood makes for an interesting half-day excursion alongside the easier walks the valley offers. Just don't go expecting a polished heritage experience. Go for the solitude and the sense of exploring something genuinely left to nature.