Ollerton Hall

The approach to Ollerton Hall is what gets you first - that long drive through proper Sherwood country, trees closing in on both sides, the kind of landscape that makes you understand why Robin Hood legends took root here. This is a Grade II listed Georgian manor that sits quietly near Newark, without the fanfare of some of its grander Nottinghamshire neighbours.

What you're looking at is an 18th-century country house with that understated elegance the period did so well. The exterior is the real draw - symmetrical, red brick, the sort of place that photographs beautifully in afternoon light. Inside access isn't guaranteed, which is worth checking before you make the journey. The grounds reward a walk around, and it's the kind of spot that appeals more to architecture enthusiasts and history types than it will to restless children.

You'd be daft to make this a standalone trip. The strength of staying nearby - whether at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest, The Sherwood Hideaway, or any of the cluster around here - is that Ollerton slots into a proper itinerary. Clumber Park, just five miles away, offers considerably more to actually do: grounds to walk, a lake, a chapel worth seeing. Pair them on a lazy afternoon drive, stop for a look at Ollerton's exterior, then spend proper time at Clumber where there's substance to keep you occupied for hours.

It's free to view from the road, which makes it a reasonable five-minute detour rather than a planned destination. Don't expect to spend longer than that unless you're genuinely into Georgian domestic architecture.