Walks from Nottingham

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).

Nottingham's oldest park, with more than 800 trees, a pond, the Bell Tower ringed by Crimean cannons and a self-guided Tree Trail. Said to have inspired J.M. Barrie's vision of Neverland.

Walk details: East Midlands Railway (tips, photos and local insights).

Canal, river, wooded track and roadside footpath.

Time: 4h30–9h30

2 lunch spots: Wilford Farm (1h30–3h in), or Dovecote Barn Café (3h–6h in)

Warnings: Short stretch on busy A453.

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Flat and mostly on decent paths.

Waterway: nine tenths beside rivers and canals.

Time: 6h30–12h30

3 lunch spots: Reflections (2h30–5h in), the Kiosk at Sawley Lock (2h30–5h in), or the Larkbeare Inn (4h30–8h30 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: Sawley Waterside & Marina, or the Plank & Leggit

Adapted from: the Leicester Ramblers.

Mixture of off-road cycle path and on-road sections. Part of the longer London-to-Lake-District route.

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

Recommended: A flat, mostly level walk: busy city and built-up streets at each end with a quiet, scenic, well-maintained towpath along the Beeston Canal in the middle. A cobbled bridge joins the towpath and there are a few short and steep inclines. Frequent buses and trams also run between Beeston and Nottingham; the route passes Beeston Station too.

Waterway: two thirds beside rivers and canals.

Time: 2h–4h30

Lunch: A quieter alternative at the Beeston side passes the Star Inn, the Victoria Hotel and a café at the Canalside Heritage Centre.

Warnings: A quarter urban. Cobbled bridge to join the towpath and a few short, steep inclines. Some busy street walking at the ends.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Derwent Valley Line Community Rail Partnership.