National Trust - Clumber Park

A massive estate that sprawls across 3,800 acres near Worksop, Clumber Park is one of those places where you can genuinely lose an afternoon without trying. The centrepiece is a proper stately home surrounded by formal gardens, but the real draw is the landscape itself - tree-lined avenues that go on for miles, a lake you can walk around, and enough open parkland to make you forget you're still in Nottinghamshire.

Walkers will have the time of their lives here. The main avenue alone is two miles long, dead straight and lined with limes - it's the sort of thing that photographs well but feels even better when you're actually walking it. The lake circuit is manageable for families with children, though younger kids might find it a bit of a slog in one go. History types will appreciate the grounds as much as the house itself - this was a ducal estate, and you can still read the landscape like a book if you know what you're looking at.

The place is run by the National Trust, so expect reasonable admission fees and decent facilities. Allow half a day minimum if you're doing more than a quick stroll; a full day won't feel wasted. Spring is lovely for the gardens, but autumn's quieter and the light's better for walking. If you're camping nearby - Clumber Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is virtually on the doorstep, or Sherwood Pines if you want something with a bit more buzz - you've got a proper base for exploring Sherwood Forest too. Worth the detour if you're in the area.