Carburton Forge Dam

The dam itself is unremarkable - a low concrete structure across a modest stretch of water near Worksop - but that's rather the point. Carburton Forge Dam is a proper working landscape, not a visitor attraction dressed up for tourists. What you get is a quiet lake ringed by woodland, the sort of place where you might spot kingfishers if you're patient, or just sit and watch the water without another soul nearby.

It's excellent for walkers planning a loop from Clumber Park, which sits just 2.5 miles away. You can combine this with a longer ramble through the Sherwood area without the crowds you'd find at the National Trust property itself. Bring binoculars if you're into birdwatching. Families with young kids won't find much to keep them entertained for long - there's no playground or cafe - but older children and teenagers doing a countryside walk won't complain about the peace.

There's no charge to access it, and no formal opening hours that I'm aware of. It's one of those places you simply turn up to. Allow 30 minutes if you're just popping by, or an hour if you fancy a proper sit with a flask. The walk from the main Clumber Park estate takes about 40 minutes.

For a caravan or lodge holiday in the area, this works best as a quiet morning detour rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with Clumber Park itself or Sherwood Forest Holiday Park and you've got a genuinely peaceful corner of Nottinghamshire that most visitors race straight past.