Uttoxeter

Market towns don't come much more straightforward than this one. Uttoxeter sits in the gentle Staffordshire countryside, a proper working town that hasn't bothered trying to reinvent itself for tourists. And frankly, that's part of its appeal.

The high street still has that lived-in feel - locals actually shop here rather than just posing for Instagram. You'll find Freedom Brewery tucking away down one of the side streets, doing decent ales that locals swear by. It's the sort of place where the barman knows your order before you've finished walking through the door.

Blithfield Reservoir dominates the landscape just outside town. Massive stretch of water that's brilliant for walking, though it can get a bit blowy on winter afternoons. The reservoir walks are well-marked and you'll often have them to yourself midweek. Uttoxeter Golf Course overlooks some lovely countryside too - not championship standard, but perfectly decent for a round.

Woodland abounds here. Bagot's Wood stretches for miles, proper ancient forest that's been here since medieval times. Bulls Park Wood and Fieldhouse Coppice offer shorter rambles if you're not up for a full day's hiking. Hound Hill gives you the best views across the Trent valley, though it's a bit of a slog to get up there.

Getting here couldn't be simpler - Uttoxeter station sits right on the Derby to Crewe line, with regular services from Birmingham and Stoke. The M6 runs close by too.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're 20 minutes from Alton Towers, half an hour from the Peak District, and Burton-upon-Trent's brewing heritage is just down the road. Uttoxeter might not shout about itself, but it's brilliantly placed for exploring this corner of Staffordshire.