The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Ockbrook And Borrowash

One of England’s smallest and most unique parish churches, measuring just 25 by 26 feet. Dating back to the mid-12th century, it is literally semi-detached, sharing a roof and a wall with a private, historic farmhouse. Originally functioning as the infirmary chapel for the neighboring, now-ruined medieval abbey, the adjoining house was later used as a pub called the "Blue Bell Inn". Legend has it the vicar used to change in the pub's bar and nip through a gallery door to preach. Despite its size, the interior houses well-preserved, late 13th-century wall paintings depicting the Annunciation, Visitation, and Nativity. The chapel is packed with historic character, including a prominent 1634 pulpit placed behind the altar, tiered gallery seating, and 17th-century box pews. The surrounding village and abbey ruins are famously known in folklore as the site where Allan-a-Dale married his sweetheart in the Robin Hood legend.

This was a medieval moated manor in the valley at the bottom of the field, situated by the brook. It was demolished in the late 16th century when a new house was built on the hill above where Risley Lodge Farm now stands visible on the hill top.

The Risley Park Lanx was a famous 4th-century Roman silver serving dish (lanx) reportedly found in Derbyshire in 1729. A local ploughman reportedly discovered the heavily damaged silver dish in a field near Risley. The shattered pieces were distributed amongst finders before being documented by antiquarian William Stukeley in 1736. Shortly after, the original fragments completely vanished. In 1991, the entire dish—soldered together from 26 pieces—magically resurfaced in London. While initially studied as a genuine antiquity, it was later revealed to be an elaborate 20th-century forgery crafted by the notorious Greenhalgh family art-forgery ring.

The church dates back to the early 14th century and was significantly rebuilt or restored around 1320 in the decorated Gothic style. Its tower was added around 1475. A former rector, Rev. William Fox, achieved local notoriety as "the sledging rector" for traveling between his parishes in the winter using a horse-drawn Russian sledge.

A scenic, peaceful, and popular, privately-owned, man-made lake situated within the historic Locko Park estate. It is surrounded by lush green parkland, making it ideal for quiet walks, picnicking, and wildlife watching.

Ownership of the estate and surrounding area is recorded back as early as the Doomsday book of 1086, when the land is recorded as belonging to a Saxon called Stori. Following the Norman Conquest, the Manor of Spondon was one of 210 manors awarded to Baron Henri de Ferriers, a Norman companion of William the Conqueror, for his bravery and support during the Battle of Hastings. In 1180, descendant William de Ferriers gave the land to the Burton Lazars of Leicestershire, an order of St. Lazarus monks dedicated to the care and nursing of lepers. The monks founded a leper hospital on the Locko Estate to the rear of the existing Locko Hall building. Indeed, the name Locko derives from the hospital, coming from the old French word 'loques', meaning rags.

Lovely cafe!

The nature reserve has a large reed bed area, wild flower meadows, wet woodlands, a lake and islands. It supports a large population of grass snakes. So keep your eyes peeled for snakes basking in the warmer weather.