Rufford Abbey Country Park

The ruins of Rufford Abbey sit in genuine woodland, not a manicured park, which is the first thing that strikes you. You're walking through proper forest - oak and beech mostly - before the stone suddenly appears, fragments of the 12th-century monastery emerging from the undergrowth like something half-remembered. The lake is the real draw here. It's substantial, ringed by trees, and genuinely peaceful in a way that most country parks aren't because there's no café blaring music or gift shop sign.

Walkers will spend a solid couple of hours circling the grounds, picking out which walls belonged to what - the undercroft, the abbot's lodgings. History types will want longer to sit with it. Families with young children might find it a bit underwhelming if they're expecting something more interactive, though the space itself is ideal for running about safely.

From Newark, it's an easy drive south into the Sherwood Forest area. The location puts you within easy reach of Center Parcs Sherwood Forest and Sherwood Pines Camping if you're basing yourselves for a longer stay. Even Sherwood Castle Holiday Forest, just under a mile away, means you can combine an abbey visit with a forest park trip without much travelling.

Go early morning or late afternoon if you can. The light's better through the trees, and you'll avoid whatever crowds the place draws during peak times. It's genuinely worth the detour if you're already in the area - less touristy than Sherwood proper, more atmospheric.