The Knockerdown

Once you’ve taken strolls on the trails running through the site and down at Carsington Water, there are plenty more walking routes to follow nearby, whether you’re up for a gentle wander around places like Harboro Rocks (five minutes’ drive) and Black Rocks (10 minutes) or prefer to head out into the Peak District National Park to cross the Dovedale Stepping Stones (15 minutes) and find Thor’s Cave (half an hour). Ashbourne (10 minutes) is the starting point for the Tissington Trail, a 13-mile traffic-free route along a disused railway line – it’s one of the most popular routes in the area for walkers and cyclists, and it’s family friendly too. For other days out, you might like to ride a heritage tram at Crich Tramway Village (20 minutes), take the cable car to the caverns and fossil exhibits at Heights of Abraham or spend the day exploring all the rides and shows at Gulliver’s Kingdom (both 15 minutes). And it’s quite possible the kids will note the proximity of Alton Towers (25 minutes) as well…