Linacre Reservoirs Lower Car Park

The car park at Linacre Reservoirs is the proper starting point for what turns out to be one of Derbyshire's best waterside walks. Three reservoirs sit in a valley just outside Chesterfield, surrounded by woodland that actually feels like you've stepped away from civilisation - which is remarkable given how close you are to town.

From the lower car park, you can follow the path around all three reservoirs, a circuit of about four miles that takes two to three hours at a gentle pace. The water is genuinely lovely, dark and still, with conifers reflected on the surface. It's not dramatic scenery - this is industrial heritage rather than Romantic Lakes - but that's precisely why it works. The reservoirs were built in the 1800s and the whole place has a quiet, purposeful feel.

Walkers will find their legs properly stretched here. Families with younger children might do the lower reservoir loop instead and save the full circuit for another day. There's a cafe near the upper reservoir if you need sustenance halfway round, though it's worth checking opening times before you arrive.

The car park itself is free and appears to open from dawn. If you're camping at one of the nearby sites - Riverside Valley Camping is only two miles away - this becomes an essential morning or afternoon venture. It fits neatly between other Peak District walks without demanding the commitment of the bigger hills. Go early on weekends if you want the place to yourself.