Beaumond Gardens

The path into Beaumond Gardens winds through mature woodland before opening onto meadows that proper take your breath away. It's a nature reserve just outside Newark, and honestly, it's the sort of place you stumble upon by accident and end up staying twice as long as planned.

You get woodland walks, open grassland, and genuinely good birdwatching if you're into that sort of thing. The reserve manages itself well - there's real wildlife here, not the manicured sort. Spring brings bluebells thick on the ground; autumn turns everything bronze and amber. Bring binoculars and a decent camera. Most visitors are walkers and nature enthusiasts rather than families with small children, though kids old enough to spot things will have a decent time pottering about.

It's free to access, which is always welcome, and you can easily spend two to three hours here depending on how many of the paths you fancy. Go early morning or late afternoon when the light is best and wildlife is actually moving about.

If you're staying at one of the glamping sites nearby - Witham Grange and Secret Garden Glamping are both within five miles - Beaumond makes an easy morning or evening walk. It slots nicely into a broader Nottinghamshire ramble. The reserve isn't a destination that'll keep you occupied all day on its own, but combined with Newark's market square and the caravan parks scattered round the area, it's a solid addition to a weekend away.