Ladybower Reservoir

The dam itself is what stops you in your tracks - a proper engineering feat straddling the valley between Hope and Castleton. Ladybower Reservoir isn't one of those attractions you tick off in twenty minutes. The walk around the perimeter is roughly seven miles, and most people do sections rather than the whole loop, which is wise if you've got kids in tow.

What you're actually doing here is walking past water, woodland, and the occasional ruin poking out when levels drop. There's a submerged village somewhere beneath the surface - Derwent - which gives the whole place a slightly eerie pull if you're into that sort of thing. The dam wall itself is walkable, and the view from the top across the reservoirs (Ladybower, Derwent, and Howden all connect) is genuinely impressive. On a clear day, the Peak District rises up around you properly.

This works best for walkers and anyone who enjoys a straightforward moorland ramble. Families with young legs will manage sections fine. It's free, naturally - you just park up and go. Allow two to three hours if you're doing half the circuit at a comfortable pace.

Staying at one of the campsites nearby - Laneside or North Lees are closest at two to two-and-a-half miles - gives you easy access. It pairs well with exploring Castleton's caves or tackling some of the Peak District's better walks. Come on a weekday if you can; weekends get rammed.