Bingham Linear Park, Tithby Road Entrance

The Tithby Road entrance drops you straight into a proper slice of Nottinghamshire countryside, and it's free to wander. Bingham Linear Park follows an old railway line - you can still spot the heritage in the trackbed - and it stretches for miles, turning what could have been just another bit of forgotten land into something genuinely worth exploring on foot.

It's best suited to walkers and families after an easy afternoon out rather than serious hikers after a challenge. The flat, well-established paths are ideal for pushchairs and younger legs, though the shade from mature trees along the route means it stays reasonably cool even on warmer days. Wildlife spotters will do well here too - you'll see plenty of birds, the occasional fox if you're lucky, and in spring the bluebells can be quite good.

Go early morning or late afternoon if you can, when the light's better and it's less busy. Allow anything from an hour for a gentle stroll to three hours if you're planning to walk the full length. There's no entrance fee and facilities seem fairly basic, so bring water if you're making a day of it.

If you're based at Janson Fishery Caravan & Camping just down the road - about three and a half miles away - this makes a dead easy break from site. It ties together nicely with a park holiday without needing to drive far. You won't find it spectacular, but on a decent day it's exactly what you want from a local nature reserve.