derby is situated in a relatively low-lying area along the lower valley of the river derwent and lies between the lowlands and valley of the river trent to the south, and the south east foothills of the pennines to the north. the city is bordered by four national character areas which include the trent valley washlands to the south, the nottinghamshire, derbyshire and yorkshire coalfields in the east, the south derbyshire claylands in the west, and the derbyshire peak fringe in the north. most of the flat plains surrounding derby lie in the trent valley washlands and south derbyshire claylands while the hillier northern parts of the city lie within the derbyshire peak fringe and the coalfields.