■ Distance: 9 miles/14.5km ■ Time: 3½ hours ■ Grade: Moderate

MAX MILES ON FOOT: 5 MIN TIME: 3 HOURS

NEWCASTLE AND MARDU CIRCULAR Level Easy Elevation gain 217m Length 6.1km (1hr 49min) Description This round-the-hill loop trail from Newcastle leads through peaceful rural landscapes and small village

■ Distance: 6½ miles/10.6km ■ Time: 3½ hours ■ Grade: Moderate

Cradled in the rolling green hills of Derbyshire, Matlock is where Victorian spa-town elegance meets Peak District wildness. Once famed for its healing waters, today it’s a gateway to riverside walks,

I found it quite disconcerting, drinking a pint with Queen Boudicca and her Iceni warriors lurking behind me. I was in the Odd One Out, a quirky pub in Colchester and was getting used to finding histo