St Chad's Water

The water at St Chad's sits surprisingly still, hemmed in by woodland that does most of the visual heavy lifting. It's a modest reservoir rather than a dramatic lake - the kind of place where you come for the walk around it rather than to gaze at sweeping vistas from a car park. From Nottingham, it's a straightforward drive into the Derbyshire countryside, and once you're here, the paths are decent enough for families who don't mind a bit of mud after rain.

What you actually do is walk. There's a circuit that takes you round the water's edge, passing through trees and the occasional clearing where the light hits the surface properly. It takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on your pace and how many times you stop to watch for birds. The birdwatching here is genuinely the draw - bring binoculars if you're keen. Walkers will find it satisfying without being taxing; it's the kind of place you can knock off between breakfast and lunch without drama.

This works well alongside a glamping stay at Field of Dreams just down the road. The lake makes for a proper walk break without needing to travel far, and it's the sort of low-key activity that rounds out a park holiday when you want fresh air but nothing too strenuous. Go on a weekday morning if you can - weekends bring dog walkers and joggers, and the peace evaporates quickly. Best in autumn when the water reflects the trees properly.