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Our Favourite Walks in the East Midlands

May 20, 2021
Our Favourite Walks in the East Midlands

The East Midlands may be home to a collection of vibrant towns and cities such as Derby and Leicester, but much of the region’s landscapes are sweeping natural environments. This makes it perfect for enjoying peaceful walks in open countryside, as you take in the scenery and get some fresh air at the same time as some valuable exercise. Whether you live in a city like Nottingham, in the Rutland area or over towards the east coast, here we pick out five of our favourite East Midlands walks.

Derwent Valley

Offering a selection of some of the most pleasant walks East Midlands hotspot the Peak District is known for, the scenery around Ladybower Reservoir is hard to beat. Going the whole way around the reservoir will see you cover a relatively flat six-mile loop, while there are lots more easy walks to seek out along the Derwent Valley Heritage Way.

Attenborough Nature Reserve

If you’re searching for the best walks in East Midlands city Nottingham, Attenborough Nature Reserve is an excellent call. You can park up in the reserve and pick up lots of different trails, making it a very convenient place for the whole family to visit. The scenery and wildlife is incredible despite being so close to a major city, with the chance to spot everything from kingfishers and herons to diving ducks, cormorants and even otters.

Sherwood Forest

Although Sherwood Forest’s mythology is closely entwined with Nottingham, some of the best parts of the woodland are actually on the edge of Mansfield. This includes the 800-year-old Major Oak, with plenty of loops taking you to different depths of the forest. Whichever route you go for, retracing the footsteps of legendary figure Robin Hood and his band of merry men is sure to be a hit with the kids.

Stanwick Lakes

A 750-acre country park close to Kettering and Wellingborough, the Stanwick Lakes lie along the River Nene and make for a scenic day out. Whether you’re going for a gentle stroll, letting the dog loose or getting involved with some of the children’s activities, you can also find crafts courses and educational services in this large, protected area, as well as an outdoor cinema.

Mam Tor

If you’re after more of a challenge, we’re back off to the Peak District for one of the region’s most impressive walks. Mam Tor is a hill which rises to just over 500m not far from the Derbyshire village of Edale, offering lovely views back across the local area. If you’re looking to push yourselves even more, there’s a loop which takes you along a ridge to the even higher Kinder Scout peak, perfect for spending the day soaking up the spectacular panoramas.

Whichever part of the East Midlands you currently call home, we have some hugely exciting developments across the region. From our Berry Hill site near Mansfield to Bingham’s Romans’ Quarter and Fernwood Village in Newark, you can also find everything from cosy 2 bedroom apartments to spacious 6 bed family homes on our Beeston Quarter development on the outskirts of Nottingham.