The Stonepits

The Stonepits is a proper woodland walk tucked away between Nottingham and the Vale of Belvoir - the sort of place locals know about but most visitors miss entirely. You're walking through mixed woodland with actual history woven into the trees: the pits themselves are old quarrying sites where stone was extracted centuries ago, and the landscape still bears those scars in the most interesting way. Sections of the woodland dip and rise unexpectedly, creating natural amphitheatres and hidden clearings that feel genuinely atmospheric.

It's brilliant for families who don't mind a moderate walk - kids get a kick out of exploring the uneven terrain and spotting the old workings. History enthusiasts will find themselves thinking about the people who hacked stone out of this ground by hand. Walkers after a proper leg-stretch without needing to drive miles will rate it highly. Allow a couple of hours if you're taking your time and actually looking around rather than just marching through.

The woodland is free to access, which is always a bonus. Best visited autumn or early spring when the canopy isn't too dense and you can actually see the ground formations properly. Summer's lovely for shade but less interesting archaeologically speaking.

It pairs well with a glamping stay at nearby Wolds Wine Estate - you can knock out the walk in the morning, then spend the afternoon at the vineyard. Even Ragdale Glamping, five miles away, makes this a natural addition to a wider exploration of the area.