Dog-friendly Repton

Four and a half miles and a little over two hours round the reservoir on woodland trails, with a short spur to the sandstone outcrop and bog of Carver's Rocks at the southern end. Start from the Severn Trent car park off the Ticknall road above Milton, two miles from Repton, which is paid and closes at dusk. Severn Trent requires dogs to be on a lead at all times here because of the wildlife, the shoreline is largely fenced with no swimming, and the Carver's Rocks nature reserve section has a boardwalk over wet ground that suits paws better than the surrounding bog.

Four and a half miles there and back on the flat, two hours, along the Trent and Mersey towpath with the option of crossing the Trent bridge into Repton for the abbey church and the village. Start from the county council picnic site at Willington, a mile and a half from Repton, which is free and gives direct access to the towpath. Level, surfaced and traffic-free the whole way, so close control is enough rather than a lead, the canal is deep with steep sides so a dog that swims needs watching between locks, and there are pubs at both the Willington and Repton ends with outside tables.