Long Belt

Long Belt is a proper woodland walk just outside Newark, tucked into Nottinghamshire's forest country where the paths wind through dense oak and birch. It's the sort of place locals know about but tourists often miss - a straightforward forest trail rather than a tourist attraction with visitor facilities, which is precisely why it works.

The walk takes you through thick woodland where the canopy closes in overhead and you lose sight of the surrounding landscape entirely. It's atmospheric rather than dramatic, the kind of place where you'll hear birds properly and maybe spot deer if you're early enough. The forest floor is soft underfoot, especially after rain, and in spring the ground cover of bluebells is genuinely worth timing a visit for.

This suits walkers who want exercise without mountain rescue drama, and families with kids old enough not to need constant entertainment - bored toddlers will struggle with a forest that doesn't have views to aim for. It's free to access and you can do an hour or make it a longer afternoon depending on energy levels.

Stay at one of the holiday parks nearby - Center Parcs Sherwood Forest sits just 1.5 miles away, or Sherwood Castle Holiday Forest at 1.8 miles - and Long Belt becomes a morning walk rather than a destination in itself. It pairs well with visits to actual Sherwood Forest itself, though Long Belt is quieter and less commercialised. Go midweek to avoid weekend dog walkers, and wear proper boots if it's been wet.