Bottom Covert

Bottom Covert sits on the outskirts of Belper, a proper woodland walk rather than a manicured destination. You get dense forest here - oak and birch mostly - with paths that wind deeper in and occasional clearings where light breaks through the canopy. It's the sort of place where you actually hear birds instead of traffic.

This suits walkers far more than day-trippers after ice cream and postcards. Bring proper boots because the ground gets boggy after rain, and the paths aren't maintained like some country estates. That's rather the appeal. You're moving through actual forest, not a stroll through landscaped grounds. An hour and a half covers the main loops without rushing, though you could easily stretch it to two hours if you fancy exploring the deeper sections.

Families with kids old enough to manage muddy terrain will find it rewarding. Younger children might lose patience - there's no playground, no visitor centre, no obvious "attractions" within the walk itself. But if your family enjoys spotting wildlife and getting a bit mucky, they'll be content.

It connects well with a caravan holiday at Poplars Farm just down the road - five miles away, which makes it an easy morning or afternoon sortie from your base. Combined with walks around nearby Belper itself and the mills along the Derwent Valley, you've got enough woodland and riverside walking to keep any group occupied for several days. Free to enter, naturally. Just park carefully and respect the forest.