The Dumps

The name alone makes you smile, doesn't it? The Dumps in Derbyshire is nothing like it sounds - it's a proper woodland walk through mixed forest with some genuinely lovely terrain. You're looking at dense tree cover, woodland paths that do get a bit muddy when it's wet, and the kind of quiet that makes you actually notice birdsong.

It works best for serious walkers rather than casual strollers. The paths aren't marked brilliantly, so you'll want a map or local knowledge, and it's the sort of place where you could spend anywhere from forty minutes to two hours depending on how lost you fancy getting. The woodland itself is attractive rather than dramatic - think beech trees, bracken, the usual East Midlands forest mix.

Historically, the name likely refers to old mining spoil from Derbyshire's coal past, though the forest has long since reclaimed whatever industry left behind. It's worth noting that formal amenities are minimal, so bring water and decent boots.

If you're basing yourself at Field of Dreams Glamping nearby Loughborough, The Dumps makes a solid morning or afternoon walk - far enough away to feel like proper woodland, close enough not to eat into half your day driving. It's particularly good in autumn when the canopy changes colour and the ground's drier. Not a destination in itself, but a proper addition to a Derbyshire walking weekend.