Hardwick Ashes

The woodland around Hardwick Ashes, just outside Worksop, is proper walking territory. You're looking at mature forest with good paths that don't demand fell boots or a detailed OS map, which makes it accessible without being patronising. The trees are the real draw here - you get a proper sense of being away from things when you're in among them, even though Worksop's close by.

This works best for anyone who wants a solid woodland walk without the crowds you'd find at some of the bigger attractions. Families with older kids will get decent mileage out of it; younger ones might find an hour enough before the novelty of trees wears off. It's genuinely free, which is refreshing. Allow a couple of hours if you're serious about exploring, or an easy 45 minutes for a brisk loop.

The location makes it clever for a caravan holiday in the area. Clumber Park sits just 4.5 miles away at Clumber Park Lodges, and National Trust Clumber Park itself is 5.6 miles south, so you could easily make this a quieter warm-up walk before hitting the bigger estate with its lakes and open spaces. Riverside Caravan Park is even closer at 2.5 miles if you want a base that keeps things low-key. Spring and autumn are best - the forest floor is less boggy and you actually get light between the branches rather than being swallowed by summer green. Visit midweek if you can; weekends see dog walkers and joggers who treat it like their personal route.