High Wood

You'll find proper woodland walking here just outside Belper, where High Wood offers the kind of tree-lined trails that remind you why the Midlands has more going for it than most people realise. It's a genuine forest - not a manicured country park, but actual working woodland with decent paths that keep you orientated without being boring.

The appeal is straightforward. If you're camped at one of the nearby sites like The Firs or Golden Valley, this beats driving an hour to somewhere more famous. Walkers will appreciate it most - the terrain's gentle enough for families but interesting enough that you won't feel like you're trudging along a park circuit. The canopy's thick enough to make a real difference on grey days, and there's space to actually breathe without stepping aside for joggers every two minutes.

You can lose an hour or so here easily, depending on which trails you take. Bring proper shoes because it gets boggy in places. There's no visitor centre or cafe, so come prepared. Free access, no hassle - that's the Derbyshire way. It won't replace a trip to somewhere like Dovedale if you're after dramatic scenery, but as a base-camp walk from your caravan at Riddings Wood or Poplars Farm, it's exactly the sort of thing that makes a quiet holiday actually feel complete. Morning light through the trees is decent for photos if you're into that.