Red Holt

Red Holt is a proper woodland walk just outside Newark - the kind of place where you can actually breathe. It's not a theme park or a manicured attraction; it's genuine forest with proper trails running through it, the sort of spot where you'll hear birdsong rather than other visitors. The woodland has a real mix of mature trees and understory, so there's decent shade even on the brightest days. You can spend anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours here depending on which paths you take and whether you're the sort to stop and actually look at things.

Walkers will get the most out of Red Holt. It's proper terrain - not flat, not artificial, just woodland as it actually is. Families with young kids who are past the pushchair stage will find it fine, though it's not a destination in itself if you've got little ones expecting a playground. Historians and nature types will appreciate what's here, though this isn't a site with interpretation boards or that sort of thing.

The fact that it's free and there are no set opening hours means you can rock up when it suits you. Early morning or late afternoon tends to be quieter. It works brilliantly as a morning walk if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Greenacres or Orchard Park are both within a few miles - before heading into Newark for lunch. You're not looking at a full-day visit, but it's exactly what you want between the caravan and somewhere else.