Sherwood Forest

The Major Oak stands about a mile into Sherwood Forest, and it's genuinely worth the walk. This ancient tree - supposedly where Robin Hood and his men met - is absolutely massive: over 1,000 years old, with a trunk so wide you'd struggle to wrap your arms round it. It's the sort of thing that makes you understand why people built legends around this place.

The forest itself is proper woodland - mostly oak and birch, with decent paths that wind through clearings and past younger trees pushing up through the undergrowth. You'll see why medieval kings protected it as hunting ground. On a quiet morning, it's peaceful enough that you forget Edwinstowe is just down the road.

Families with kids do well here. There's the novelty of the Robin Hood connection, the nature reserve element keeps things interesting (you might spot deer, fallow and red), and the paths are manageable without being boring. Allow a couple of hours if you're doing the Major Oak walk plus a loop through the wider forest. Walkers will want longer - the reserve is substantial, and you can easily spend half a day exploring. History buffs get their kicks from the medieval connections, though there's more atmosphere than actual excavated evidence.

Admission's free. The nearby Sherwood Pines Camping makes a solid base for a few nights - close enough that you're not driving, far enough that you get proper woodland quiet. Go midweek if you can; weekends pull day-trippers who can crowd the Major Oak.