Linacre Lower Reservoir

The water here is so still on a calm morning that you can barely tell where the reservoir ends and the sky begins. Linacre Lower Reservoir sits in the hills above Chesterfield, a proper working water supply rather than a tourist attraction, which is precisely why it feels so refreshing to visit. You get a straightforward walk around the perimeter - nothing strenuous, just enough to work off breakfast - with decent views across the water toward the surrounding moorland.

It's the kind of place walkers drift into rather than plan for. The banks are open to the public, and there's something calming about tracing the shoreline without any theme park nonsense or Instagram scaffolding. Early morning is best, before anyone else arrives. The water company maintains it all properly, so paths are clear and safe year-round.

Families with younger children can manage the lower sections easily, though it's not a destination that'll keep them entertained for hours - more of a pleasant break during a Derbyshire ramble. History types won't find much to chew on here; it's Victorian infrastructure, functional rather than dramatic. Keen photographers might catch something worthwhile at certain angles, especially when light's low.

If you're based at Spire View Yurts or Poolsbrook Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, this makes a good morning circuit. Nothing life-changing, but on a clear day with proper boots and no particular agenda, it's well worth the short drive from Chesterfield.