Nottingham

The Vale of Belvoir stretches out in all directions here, a patchwork of working farmland broken by church spires and traditional villages. You're in proper Nottinghamshire countryside, where footpaths wind past The Rookery's ancient woodland and the gentle rise of Blackberry Hill offers views across to neighbouring Leicestershire.

This corner of the county feels refreshingly undiscovered. While nearby Newark draws the crowds, villages like Bottesford and Aslockton retain their agricultural character. The train stations at both serve the Nottingham to Grantham line - handy for day trips but these settlements remain firmly rooted in rural life.

Flawborough Church anchors one of the area's quieter villages, while Cranmer's Mount carries historical significance as a Civil War site. More unusual is the Scarrington Horseshoe pile - exactly what it sounds like and worth the short detour for sheer oddity. Art in a Box provides cultural sustenance in Bottesford, and the Naturescape Tea Room makes a proper stop for walkers.

For something different, seek out the Japanese Woodland - an unexpected pocket of oriental calm, or The Brownie Bench, which has its own local legend. The Rose Garden offers seasonal colour, though it's best visited between June and September.

Access is straightforward from the A52, with Grantham fifteen minutes south and Nottingham twenty-five minutes north. The surrounding network of holiday parks, from traditional touring sites like Shelford Nurseries Caravan Park to newer glamping options at Secret Garden Glamping, puts you within easy reach of both the Peak District's southern edges and Lincoln's cathedral city.