Dog-friendly walks in Derby

Three and a half flat miles and an hour and three quarters round the lake, the avenues and the old kitchen garden walls, on made paths that stay walkable in winter. Start from the county council car park off Borrowash Road, five miles south-east of Derby, where charges apply at £3.50 for three hours and £7 all day, 8am to 8pm from April to October. This is one of the most dog-used parks in the county with tie-up points by the information centre and around the courtyards, dogs need only close control on the main park but must be on a lead in the central courtyards, and dogs are not allowed into the local nature reserve at all.

Three and a half easy miles and about an hour and three quarters round Robert Adam's parkland, over the Cutler Brook bridges, past the boathouse and back up the ha-ha to the north front. Start from the National Trust car park at Kedleston, four miles north-west of the city centre and signed off the A38, free to members and paid otherwise. Dogs must be on a lead at all times in all the outdoor areas because sheep graze the park, dogs on short leads are welcome in the restaurant, shop and bookshop, and the brook and lakes give shallow drinking though the water is fenced on the dam side.

Four and a half miles there and back on the flat, following the public footpath along the length of the old Derby Canal at Borrowash and out towards the Derwent, about two hours. Start from the Elvaston Castle car park and walk out through the park gates, or use the free roadside parking at Borrowash village end; the county council car park charges £3.50 for three hours. It is level going the whole way and the canal line is wide enough for close control rather than a lead, but the channel is choked and steep-sided in places so a keen swimmer is better kept out of it, and the river gives clean water at the far end.