Hawks Wood

A proper woodland walk just outside Worksop, Hawks Wood offers the kind of peaceful forest ramble that feels worlds away from the caravan park life, even though you're only minutes from your pitch. The trees here are dense and tall - oak, beech and pine mostly - creating that lovely dappled light you get on good days. Paths wind through at a gentle pace, so it's not a slog.

This is walker territory, really. If you're after a proper leg-stretch between days at Riverside or Waleswood, it delivers without fuss. The woodland floor is soft underfoot and the air smells right - that forest smell you can't replicate anywhere else. It's the sort of place where you might see deer if you're quiet, though no guarantees.

Kids will manage a good hour or so here before asking if there's a play park instead. The woodland is atmospheric rather than dramatic - no waterfalls, no views to a distant valley. But for a family that enjoys pottering, letting the children explore safe ground between the trees, it works well.

Timing-wise, early morning or late afternoon beats midday. You'll have more peace and the light's better for photographs if that's your thing. It's free to access, as far as we can tell, and there's no formal visitor centre, so go in expecting a proper back-to-nature experience rather than facilities. Pair it with Clumber Park or Rother Valley if you want something with a bit more structure nearby - both are within half an hour's drive.