Pond D

A modest water body just outside Newark, Pond D isn't going to set your pulse racing, but it's the sort of place that quietly rewards a visit if you're staying nearby. The water itself is calm and reflective, backed by typical Nottinghamshire countryside - flat fields, open sky, and that particular quality of light you get across the East Midlands on a decent day.

It works best for walkers and birdwatchers rather than families expecting a day out. Bring binoculars and you might spot waterfowl; the setting is peaceful enough for that. Don't expect facilities, cafes, or anything fancy. It's a proper local spot, the kind of place where you get a sense of what the region actually looks like when you're not hunting for tourist attractions.

If you're based at one of the glamping venues dotted around this part of Nottinghamshire - BrackenXcapes, Witham Grange, or Southwell Retreat are all within a few miles - Pond D makes a decent leg-stretch on a morning walk. It won't take you more than an hour, tops. The real value comes from how it sits alongside the wider landscape rather than from the pond itself. You get a feel for rural Nottinghamshire that way, which beats another afternoon trawling through gift shops in Newark.