Ashbourne

Georgian elegance meets proper market town grit in this surprisingly sophisticated corner of Derbyshire. The wide Church Street sweeps past honey-coloured limestone buildings that wouldn't look out of place in Bath, while the weekly market keeps things refreshingly down-to-earth.

Ashbourne earned its stripes as the southern gateway to the Peak District, and it shows. St Chad's Church dominates the skyline with its soaring spire, while the surrounding countryside rolls away in waves of green pasture dotted with dry stone walls. The famous Royal Shrovetide Football match transforms the entire town into a medieval battleground each February - though thankfully it's rather more civilised the rest of the year.

Carsington Water sits just northeast, offering proper sailing and cycling routes around its shoreline. The reservoir's a bit of a magnet for weekend warriors from Derby and Nottingham, but midweek it's blissfully quiet. For something different, Maze 52 provides family entertainment with a twist, while dog owners swear by the Ashbourne Carefree Canine Exercise Field for letting their mutts run wild.

Getting here's straightforward enough - the A515 runs straight through from the M6, making it easily accessible from Birmingham or Manchester. Derby's only twenty minutes down the road if you need a proper shopping fix.

Staying at one of the nearby parks makes perfect sense for exploring both the town's genteel charms and the wilder Peak District beyond. Ashbourne Heights Holiday Park puts you right on the doorstep, while Carsington Water's campsites offer lakeside pitches for those wanting to wake up to water views. From here, you're perfectly positioned to tackle the hills by day and sample the town's surprisingly good pubs by night.