Brunk Wood

Walking into Brunk Wood on a grey Nottinghamshire afternoon, you immediately understand why locals keep quiet about it. This is proper woodland - the kind with actual trees, actual quiet, and actual space to breathe without bumping into a gift shop. You're looking at mixed woodland with decent paths, the sort of place where you can lose an hour without trying and come out feeling like you've genuinely escaped.

It works best for walkers wanting something low-key rather than scenic viewpoint hunters. Families with kids who don't need entertainment beyond "trees and sticks" will be fine here. There's no cafe, no visitor centre, no car park attendant - just access to woodland on the eastern edge of Newark. That's either refreshing or disappointing depending on what you came for.

The walk itself takes as long as you make it. An hour's amble is realistic if you're taking it easy; you can stretch to two hours if you're the thorough type. No admission charge that I could find, and no set opening hours because it's woodland - you go when it suits you. Go on a weekday morning if possible; weekends pull dog walkers.

If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots like Southwell Retreat or the Wigwam pods, Brunk Wood makes an easy morning sortie. It's not a destination in itself - more an honest alternative to the manicured country estates that dominate the area. Sometimes that's exactly what you need.