Millhouses Park

The River Sheaf cuts through Millhouses Park like it's been doing for centuries, and you can walk alongside it for miles if you fancy. This is proper Peak District edge country, just outside Dronfield - moorland rolling away, trees thick enough to block out the sky in patches, and the kind of quiet you don't get near towns. There's a decent stretch of woodland here, some open grassland, and the river itself, which is the main draw. Bring binoculars if you're into birds; the water and trees attract everything from grey herons to various ducks.

The park works best for people who want a proper walk without needing anywhere to actually visit - there's no visitor centre, no café, no faffing about. Half an hour is fine if you just want to stretch your legs and see the river, but walkers heading through from Dronfield or camping at Fox Hagg Farm or Wyming Brook Farm will find decent loops here that eat up a proper morning. It's free, and you can turn up whenever suits.

Winter and early spring are when the light's best along the Sheaf, though it gets muddy. Summer brings the greenery but also midges if you're unlucky. If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - East Peak or North Lees if you want something more established - Millhouses makes a solid addition to a few days exploring the dales and moorland round here. It's not flashy, but it does the job.