Leek

Four textile mills once thrummed along the River Churnet here, and you can still feel that industrial heritage in the Victorian terraces climbing up from the valley floor. This is proper Peak District edge territory - where Staffordshire's rolling farmland suddenly rears up into dramatic gritstone outcrops and moorland that wouldn't look out of place in Yorkshire.

The town centre's a bit sleepy midweek, but Saturday's market brings real energy to the cobbled square. Local walkers know Leek as the gateway to some of the Peak's most spectacular walking. The Roaches dominates the eastern skyline - a jagged ridge that's pure drama against grey skies. It's a proper scramble to the top, but the views across three counties are cracking.

Down in the valley, Tittesworth Water offers gentler pleasures. The reservoir's play area keeps kids happy while parents eye up the sailing boats. More unusual is tracking down the area's quirky landmarks - the Giant Bee sculpture and the famous Big Chair that's become an Instagram favourite.

Gradbach Hill and Cut-Thorn Hill provide excellent shorter walks, while Doxey Pool up on the moors has an almost mystical quality on misty mornings. The locals reckon it's bottomless, though that's probably just Staffordshire folklore.

Getting here's straightforward enough - Leek sits on the A53 between Stoke-on-Trent and Buxton. The nearest train station's at Stoke, about twenty minutes by car. Staying at one of the local holiday parks makes perfect sense if you're planning to explore both the genteel Churnet Valley and the wilder Peak District proper. You're within striking distance of Alton Towers too, though that's a very different kind of thrill.