Churchleycommon Wood

Rolling hills give way to dense woodland here, where ancient oaks and birches create a proper canopy that filters the Derbyshire light into dappled patterns on the forest floor. This isn't your manicured country park - Churchleycommon Wood feels genuinely wild, with muddy paths that wind through the trees without much ceremony.

Walkers looking for a decent stretch of legs will find plenty to explore, though don't expect waymarked trails or visitor centres. The wood sprawls across the countryside just outside Ashbourne, offering that increasingly rare thing: a patch of English woodland you can wander without bumping into interpretation boards every fifty yards.

Families with older children who don't mind getting their boots dirty will love the freedom here, but it's not ideal for pushchairs or anyone wanting gentle strolls. The undergrowth can be thick in places, and after rain the paths turn properly squelchy.

Being so close to several holiday parks including Callow Top and Sandybrook Lodges makes this a cracking spot for campers wanting to escape their pitches for a morning's ramble. Pack a thermos, allow a couple of hours, and don't worry about opening times - this is just good old-fashioned countryside access as it should be.