Fairfield park

Fairfield Park is a proper nature reserve just outside Newark, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think. It's woodland and open grassland in equal measure - you get decent views across the Nottinghamshire countryside, and the walking trails are straightforward enough that you won't need a map.

Wildlife spotters will find plenty to keep them occupied. The reserve draws birdwatchers year-round, and if you time it right during spring migration, there's genuine potential for sighting something unusual. The woodland sections are cool even on hot days, and the paths meander through patches of scrubland where you'll spot rabbits and the occasional deer if you're quiet about it.

It's best suited to walkers and nature enthusiasts rather than young kids looking for entertainment - there's nothing playful about the place. Allow an hour minimum to make it worthwhile, two hours if you're proper into your birds. Bring binoculars.

If you're staying at Eastfield Glamping nearby, this works as a morning outing before heading elsewhere. It's free to access and open to visitors throughout the year, though honestly the reserve shines from April through September when the birdlife gets properly active. The ground can get muddy after rain, so decent footwear is essential.