Sherwood Forest NNR

Ancient oaks twist their way skyward from sandy heathland, their gnarled branches heavy with centuries of stories. This is what remains of the medieval royal hunting forest - about 450 acres of genuine old-growth woodland that somehow survived when most of Sherwood was cleared for farmland. The famous Major Oak, supposedly Robin Hood's meeting place, draws the crowds but it's the quieter corners that reveal the reserve's true character.

Families with young adventurers will love the marked trails that wind through birch groves and past hidden ponds. The visitor centre near Edwinstowe tells the full story of how this landscape shaped local legends, though older kids might find the Robin Hood angle a bit overdone. Serious walkers can pick up longer routes that connect with Clumber Park to the east.

Go early morning or late afternoon to dodge the coach parties and catch the light filtering through the canopy at its best. The heathland blooms purple with heather in late summer - properly stunning if you time it right. Unlike some nature reserves that feel managed to within an inch of their lives, this place retains a wild edge that makes you understand why outlaws chose it as their hideout.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Center Parcs Sherwood Forest puts you right on the doorstep for dawn walks when the forest belongs to the deer and early risers.