Kelham's Holt

You'll find yourself among tall conifers and open woodland just outside Newark - a proper working forest that doesn't feel like it's been packaged for tourists. Kelham's Holt is the kind of place where you can actually breathe, wander without a defined trail system, and let the kids run off some energy without worrying they'll hit a gift shop.

It's a mixed woodland, mainly pines with enough deciduous trees to keep things interesting across the seasons. The ground cover changes depending on where you walk - carpets of needles in the denser sections, clearer paths where the canopy opens up. A decent spot for a ramble if you've got a couple of hours to kill, though it's not going to blow your mind if you're the sort who needs dramatic vistas or historical plaques at every turn.

Walkers will find it straightforward enough. The terrain is flat-ish, which suits families with younger children, though the paths can get boggy after rain. Dog owners tend to gravitate here too - there's proper room to let them off lead. Spring brings bluebells in patches, autumn does the obvious thing with the leaves. Winter's actually quite nice, when you can see further through the bare branches.

If you're based at Four Seasons Country Park or the glamping at Spire View Meadow, Kelham's Holt works as a morning escape before heading to Newark proper for lunch. Not a full-day destination, but a solid filler for a Lincolnshire week if you need somewhere to stretch your legs away from the caravan.