Thorswood Plantation

Thorswood Plantation is a proper woodland walk just outside Ashbourne, the kind of place that rewards a muddy afternoon without demanding much in return. The forest floor is thick with leaf litter and bracken, and if you time it right - autumn's best - the whole place glows amber and rust. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which is either a blessing or a bore depending on how you feel about roughing it slightly.

This is walkers' territory, plain and simple. Families with younger kids might find an hour here sufficient before restlessness sets in, but anyone who actually enjoys being among trees will want to give it a proper go. The paths are well-trodden enough not to require a compass, yet quiet enough that you won't be dodging crowds. Bring waterproofs - Staffordshire woodland drainage is what it is.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Callow Top or Lower Micklin are both within four miles - Thorswood slots nicely into a broader day out exploring the Peak District foothills. It's the sort of walk that pairs well with a pub lunch back in Ashbourne afterwards rather than standing as a destination in itself. Free access, no opening hours faffing about. Just turn up, walk, leave when you've had enough. That's the appeal of it.