The Nursery

The Nursery is a proper woodland pocket tucked away in Nottinghamshire, just a short drive from Nottingham town centre. It's a working forest rather than a manicured visitor attraction - you'll find yourself among mature trees, natural paths, and the kind of quiet that makes you actually notice birdsong again.

This is exactly the sort of place to bring if you want a proper walk without the crowds. The terrain's manageable for families with older kids, though it's not a pushchair-friendly route. Most visitors allow between one and two hours to wander the main paths, depending on how much you fancy poking about in the undergrowth. There's something quite satisfying about exploring a genuine working woodland rather than a theme park version of nature.

It works brilliantly as a half-day excursion if you're based at nearby New Hall Farm for a park holiday. The caravan and camping site is only five and a half miles away, making it an easy morning or late-afternoon expedition to stretch your legs without venturing too far from base. Walkers will get the most out of it - it's not a destination for thrill-seekers or those after manicured gardens, but rather people who actually enjoy trees and the forest ecosystem.

Admission appears to be free, though facilities information isn't readily available online, so arrive prepared. The woodland's best visited in autumn when the canopy's turning colour, or spring when everything's pushing through. Summer can feel a bit claustrophobic if the growth's at its thickest.