Jack Riding

The forest floor at Jack Riding is proper dense - ancient oaks tower overhead and the light filters through in dusty green shafts. It's a working woodland just outside Worksop, which means you're walking through actual forest rather than a manicured park, and that's refreshing. The main draw is the network of paths that wind through old growth, offering genuine peace if you time it right and dodge the weekenders.

Walkers will get the most from this. Bring proper boots because it gets boggy, especially in winter, and the paths aren't always obvious - that's part of the appeal if you like navigation, annoying if you don't. There's no visitor centre or facilities that I could find, so this is a no-frills affair. Allow a couple of hours for a decent circuit. It's free to access, which is why locals guard it like a secret.

As a base for exploring Nottinghamshire's estates, Jack Riding works well. You're minutes from Clumber Park Lodges and Clumber Park itself - the National Trust property is worth a full day if you're into grand houses and lakeside walks. Riverside Caravan Park is even closer if you've got a van. The forest gives you that woodland immersion without the crowds, while Clumber provides the big-ticket polish. Hit Jack Riding for an early morning walk before breakfast at one of the nearby parks, or use it as a quieter alternative if Clumber feels overrun. Genuinely good for families who don't need constant entertainment, less so for those wanting trails marked with pretty signage.