Walks you can reach from East Midlands Parkway by train

Parks, river and heritage trail.

Museum of Making (30 mins in)

Darley Park

6 lunch spots: Darley Park (1h15 in) — Darley Park Terrace Cafe, the Little Darley in the Park, the Abbey Inn, or the Darleys; plus the Joiners Arms (3h in), or the Orangery Café (4h in)

4 end-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Victoria Inn, or the Waterfall

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Similar walk: North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership.

Waterways — River Derwent, Derby & Sandiacre Canal and Erewash Canal.

2 lunch spots: Canal Cottage Cafe (2h45 in), or the Navigation (3h15 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: Peking House, or the Sawley Junction

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Repurposed railway track along the Great Northern Greenway.

Duffield Castle: The remains of one of England's largest castles (National Trust; 30 mins to visit).

2 lunch spots: the Bell and Harp (1h in), or the Three Horseshoes (2h15 in)

4 end-of-walk rewards: the Alexandra Hotel, the Brunswick, the Waterfall, or the Merry Widows

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a sixth of the walk.

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Canal, footpaths and roadside footpath.

3 lunch spots: the Anchor Inn (1h45 in), the Blacksmith's Arms (2h45 in), or the Moorings (2h45 in)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Boat Inn

Warnings: Last section on busy road.

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Good paths, nature reserve, canal and river.

Waterway: nine tenths beside rivers and canals.

4 lunch spots: Beeston Lock (1h in) — the Riverside Bar, Boathouse Cafe, or Canal Heritage Centre; plus Restaurant Sat Bains (2h in)

Warnings: Check for flooding.

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

2 lunch spots: the Swan Inn (2h15 in), or Waterloo Lodge (3h30 in)

4 end-of-walk rewards: the Beer House, the Freemasons Arms, the Cherry Tree, or the Oat Hill

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Villages and countryside.

5 lunch spots: Broughton (3h30 in) — Best Plaice, the Red Lion, Broughton Fish and Chips, or the Broughton & Cransley WMC; plus the Overstone Arms (1h15 in)

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Canal, industrial towns and disused railway viaduct.

Waterway: nine tenths along the Erewash Canal.

3 lunch spots: Hallam Fields, Ilkeston (2h30 in) — Gallows Grub, or the Gallows Inn; plus La Rock (1h15 in)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Dew Drop Inn

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Flat and on decent paths.

Waterway: four fifths along the River Soar.

3 lunch spots: Birstall (3h30 in) — the Earl of Stamford, the Old Plough, or the White Horse

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Corn Exchange, or the Rainbow and Dove

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Flat and footpaths.

3 lunch spots: Rearsby (1h45 in) — the Horse and Groom, or the Wheel; plus the Bell Inn (3h15 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: Wild Bean Cafe, or the Boat Inn

Warnings: Winter flooding possible.

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Off-road walking and cycling alongside canal and river — a waterside network of paths. Passes the historic Trent Bridge.

Walk details: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership (local insights).

Largely urban walking on pavements and a riverside path, through parks and along the line of the Derby Canal.

1 lunch spot: Waterside Café

Warnings: Only a few trains a day call at Peartree.

Walk details: North Staffordshire Community Rail Partnership (tips and turn-by-turn directions).