Carsington Wood

The woodland around Carsington Water is proper walking country. Dense rows of conifers and deciduous trees create natural shelter, and the trails wind through genuine forest rather than manicured parkland. You're looking at easy to moderate walks that loop through planted woodland, with occasional clearings where the landscape opens up across Derbyshire's rolling terrain.

It's ideal for families who want their kids to burn off energy without needing a map and compass. The paths are well-trodden and relatively flat in places, though some sections climb steadily enough to feel like proper exercise. Walkers will appreciate the peace - it's the kind of forest where you actually hear birdsong rather than other people's conversation.

Access appears to be free, and you can spend anywhere from forty minutes on a quick circuit to half a day exploring the full extent of the woodland. Early morning is best if you want solitude. Weekends get busier, unsurprisingly.

For caravan and glamping holidays based at Carsington Water Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or Carsington Fields just down the road, this woodland is your backyard. It transforms a water-based holiday into something with proper walking built in. Ashbourne, the nearest town, gives you shops and pubs, but honestly you'll be spending most daylight hours in the trees. If the weather turns grim, it's still walkable - the canopy keeps you reasonably dry - but on decent days there's no excuse not to be here. Worth the detour from other Peak District walks? Not particularly. But as a free bonus for campers staying at the water's edge, it's brilliant.