Birch Holt

Birch Holt is a proper woodland walk just outside Newark - nothing fancy, just a straightforward forest where you can stretch your legs and actually breathe. The trees do their job: tall, dense enough to keep you cool on warm days, and open enough that you're not trudging through gloom. It's the sort of place where an hour disappears without you noticing, which is either brilliant or means you've walked in circles.

You'll spot the usual woodland residents if you're lucky - nothing exotic, just birds and the occasional fox sighting if you're quiet enough. The paths are decent underfoot, though after rain it can get a bit boggy. Families with young kids will manage fine for a casual hour, though it won't keep teenagers entertained for long. Serious walkers heading into the area for longer trails might use it as a warm-up.

It's free to access, which is the only way a basic forest walk should be charged. Go in late afternoon when the light's softer and the casual dog walkers have cleared off. Birch Holt works well as a filler between time at the nearby glamping sites - Lincolnshire Glamping at Spire View Meadow or Four Seasons Country Park are both within 5 miles, so you could knock out a quick woodland walk before heading back for dinner. Don't expect dramatic scenery or hidden waterfalls. Come here if you want quiet and trees, nothing more.