Sheffield

Steel and grit give way to surprising wildness just twenty minutes from Sheffield's city centre. The S36 postcode sits where industrial heritage meets the Peak District's eastern edge, creating one of South Yorkshire's most dramatic landscapes. Hingcliff Hill and High Stones rise like ancient sentinels above the Pennine moorland, their rocky outcrops offering proper hill walking with cracking views across the Don Valley.

Margery Hill completes this trio of peaks, each one accessible via well-marked footpaths that wind through heather and bracken. Between them lies some of Yorkshire's finest walking country - challenging enough for serious hikers but manageable for families with older children. The moors here feel genuinely remote, yet you're never more than a few miles from a proper pub.

Down in the valleys, Sleepy John's wood carvings add an unexpected artistic touch to the landscape. These weathered sculptures, carved into ancient tree stumps, have become something of a local landmark for walkers exploring the quieter paths around Stocksbridge.

Getting here couldn't be easier. The A616 cuts straight through from Sheffield, while the Trans Pennine Trail offers a traffic-free route for cyclists. Stocksbridge, the nearest proper town, has all the essentials plus a few decent cafes for post-walk refueling.

Staying at one of the local campsites or glamping sites makes perfect sense for exploring this corner of South Yorkshire. You're ideally placed for tackling the Peak District's quieter eastern reaches while being close enough to Sheffield for evening entertainment or rainy-day museums.