Old Gorse

The woodland at Old Gorse is properly atmospheric if you catch it right - ancient gnarled trees, dappled light filtering through, the kind of place where you can hear yourself think for once. It's a proper bit of old Nottinghamshire, the sort of forest that makes you understand why Robin Hood stories took root here in the first place.

You're looking at a decent walk through mixed woodland with enough variety to keep you moving for a couple of hours without feeling like you're trudging the same path twice. The ground's uneven in places - wear decent boots - and there are spots where the canopy gets thick enough that you'll need to watch your footing. It's not dramatic scenery, but there's something quietly rewarding about it. Families with kids old enough to handle a proper woodland walk will get on fine here, though very young ones might find it a bit samey.

Free to access, no facilities that I'm aware of, so bring water and maybe a packed lunch if you're planning to stay a while. Spring and autumn are genuinely lovely - less mud than winter, less midges than summer. Nottingham's only a short drive away, which makes this a solid half-day option if you're staying at Janson Fishery Caravan & Camping nearby. It's worth fitting in if you're exploring the wider area, though I wouldn't plan a trip entirely around it. The real appeal is that it feels properly local - the kind of place locals actually use rather than somewhere designed for tourists.