Brunts Barn Nature Park

Walking the footpaths that wind through this lesser-known slice of Derbyshire countryside, you'll find proper peace just a few miles from Hope Valley's busier trails. Brunts Barn Nature Park sprawls across former farmland that's been given back to wildlife, creating the kind of habitat where you might spot kestrels hunting overhead or catch a glimpse of deer at the woodland edges.

Families with younger children will appreciate the relatively flat terrain and well-maintained paths - though don't expect fancy interpretation boards or visitor centres. This is nature in its working clothes rather than Sunday best. Bird watchers particularly rate the dawn and dusk sessions here, when the resident owl population becomes active.

The park works brilliantly as a gentle morning walk if you're staying at one of the nearby sites like North Lees Campsite or Chatsworth Park. It's the sort of place that rewards those who take their time rather than power through. Allow a couple of hours minimum to properly explore the various habitats, from the wetland areas that attract waterfowl to the mixed woodland that comes alive with birdsong in spring.

Whether admission is free remains unclear, but given its community nature reserve status, don't expect to pay through the nose. It's well worth combining with a visit to the more dramatic landscapes around Hope Valley for a proper taste of Peak District variety.