Staden Low

The walk up Staden Low takes about twenty minutes from Buxton if you know where you're going - less if you're quick on your feet. It's a proper little hill rather than a dramatic peak, but the views across the White Peak are worth the modest climb. On a clear day you can see for miles across the moorland, which makes the short effort feel worthwhile.

The summit itself is modest - a few scattered rocks and moorland grass - but that's precisely why it works. You won't find crowds here like you do at some of the bigger attractions. Families with younger children manage it without complaint, and it's the sort of walk that doesn't eat into a whole afternoon. Walkers heading between the nearby market town and the surrounding countryside often bag it as a bonus rather than a destination in itself.

There's no facility to speak of - no café, no visitor centre, no entrance fee. Just moorland and a relatively short ascent. That means it's free to visit, though you'll want decent shoes given the boggy patches that appear after rain. Spring and autumn tend to be best when the weather's more predictable.

If you're based at one of the caravan sites nearby - Lime Tree is practically on the doorstep, only a third of a mile away - Staden Low makes an excellent morning walk before heading into Buxton proper. It's not the sort of climb that dominates a day, but for a straightforward bit of fresh air and moorland views without the faffing about, it does the job.