Fairthorn Green

You'll find Fairthorn Green a proper breath of fresh air on the edge of Sheffield's sprawl, where Derbyshire proper starts to roll out before you. It's a modest village green - the sort of place that doesn't shout about itself, which is precisely why it's worth knowing about. The green itself is ringed with a handful of stone cottages and older buildings, giving it that genuine sense of settlement history rather than the manicured village-green theatre you get elsewhere.

Walkers get the most from this area. It's a decent launching point for exploring the Peak District fringe, and the surrounding countryside opens up quickly once you leave the village. There's something about the stone architecture and the quiet lanes that makes it feel properly removed from Sheffield, even though the city's only a short drive away.

No admission fee to visit, naturally - it's a village. Allow an hour or so if you're just having a look around and a walk through the immediate area. Come mid-morning on a weekday and you'll likely have the place to yourself. Weekends pull in more traffic, though nothing overwhelming.

If you're based at Laneside Caravan Park, just under five miles away, or the excellent Castleton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite a bit further out, Fairthorn Green works as a gentle morning ramble before you head into the heavier walking territory. It's the sort of spot that reminds you there's more to the Peak District edges than just the headline attractions.