Hardwick Scrub

Hardwick Scrub is a proper little nature reserve just outside Newark, the kind of place that rewards a quiet morning walk without demanding much effort in return. It's essentially a stretch of heathland and grassland habitat - nothing dramatic, but genuinely worth a detour if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Trentfield Farm or Sundown Adventureland.

The scrub itself is best visited between late spring and early autumn when the wildflowers are doing their thing and you've got a decent chance of spotting butterflies and grasshoppers. It's the sort of location that appeals to naturalists and casual walkers alike - no particular trail system, just open ground where you can wander at your own pace. Kids will find it less thrilling than a proper adventure park, though exploring unstructured terrain has its own appeal for the under-tens who like turning over logs and looking for bugs.

Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're the type to linger. There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, so come prepared - water and a decent pair of shoes matter here, especially after rain when the ground gets boggy. Free to access, naturally. It works well as a morning excursion before heading to Sundown Adventureland for the afternoon, or as a standalone break from the usual holiday routine if you've overdone the theme park circuit. Real value lies in the peace and the chance to actually see what wild Nottinghamshire looks like beneath the development.