Kennel Wood

Walking into Kennel Wood feels like stepping into proper woodland proper - ancient oaks, decent paths, and enough quiet to actually hear yourself think. It's a small forest near Newark, the sort of place locals have probably walked through dozens of times without fanfare, and that's rather the appeal.

The wood itself is straightforward: managed woodland with established trails that take you through mixed trees and undergrowth. It's not dramatic or particularly vast, but it works well if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Sherwood Castle Holiday Forest and Center Parcs are only just down the road. Families with younger kids will find enough here for an hour or so of mucking about, though don't expect dramatic viewpoints or adventure playground equipment. The real audience is walkers who appreciate a proper dose of woodland without needing it to be spectacular or Instagrammable.

Being free and accessible, it slots nicely into a longer Sherwood area day out. You could easily combine it with Sherwood Forest itself if you wanted contrasts - one's properly managed heritage tourism, this one's just a wood where you can actually walk without queuing. Go early morning for the best chance of wildlife spotting, though realistically you'll see woodland birds and maybe the odd deer if you're lucky.

The ground can be muddy after rain, so decent boots are wise. It's worth an afternoon ramble if you're in the area, particularly if you're camping nearby, but don't travel specially for it. It's the sort of walk that's genuinely enjoyable once you're there, even if it won't change your life.