Gravelhill Plantation

Just outside Mansfield, Gravelhill Plantation is a proper woodland walk rather than a destination with facilities or admission charges. You get coniferous forest, mixed woodland, and the kind of quiet that actually feels rare in the Midlands these days. It's the sort of place where you can legitimately lose an hour or two without noticing, which suits some people and bores others senseless.

Walkers will find it worth a visit. The terrain is manageable - nothing that'll have you cursing your footwear - and it connects reasonably well with other local woods if you're keen to string together a longer route. Don't expect manicured paths or signboards. This is straightforward woodland, best appreciated if you like the simplicity of trees and space without the tea room and gift shop that comes with bigger attractions.

Families with young kids might find it a bit thin on entertainment after thirty minutes, though if your children are the sort who'll spend hours building dens and investigating moss, they'll be content. Bring them in spring or early summer rather than winter, when the ground gets boggy and visibility drops.

If you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Sherwood Forest Holiday Park is barely two miles away, or Center Parcs is only four - Gravelhill works as a supplement rather than a main event. Pop in for a morning walk before heading elsewhere. It's free, it's accessible, and it's genuine woodland. Just go in with the right expectations.