Wattispiece Plantation

A proper woodland walk rather than a manicured attraction, Wattispiece Plantation sits just outside Belper in Derbyshire and offers the kind of forest ramble that rewards a bit of mud on your boots. The plantation is mixed woodland - conifers planted decades ago alongside native trees that have muscled their way in - and it's the sort of place where you genuinely feel you've escaped rather than ticked a box.

Walkers will get the most from this. It's not dramatic scenery or anything, but there's something honest about it. You can spend an hour looping through the trees, spotting the occasional bird, listening to the quiet. The trails are reasonably well-trodden but can get boggy, so waterproofs aren't silly even on decent days. It's free to access, naturally, and you won't find a visitor centre or café here - it's not that sort of place.

With several caravan parks within five miles - The Firs is barely two miles away, and Poplars Farm and Carsington Water are close enough for a half-day outing - it slots neatly into a Derbyshire park holiday. If you're staying at one of the Carsington Water sites, you've got both the plantation and the reservoir's walking trails within easy reach. Young kids might manage 45 minutes before the novelty of trees wears off, but families who like a genuine woodland experience rather than playground facilities will find it worthwhile. Go early or late to dodge the few other visitors and you'll have the place practically to yourself.