My favourite spots in Nottinghamshire by Robert Mayo

This week we are sharing Robert Mayo's favourite places in Nottinghamshire. If you would like to share your ‘favourites’ with us, email us at social@experiencenottinghamshire.com or use the comment section below. You may feature on our blog and our various social media platforms. Robert Mayo is the Development Director at the Welbeck Estate, one of the great traditional landed estates, located in north Nottinghamshire.  Set mainly within Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, an area of great natural beauty, some of the most important historic buildings in the Midlands have been revitalised and are providing unique residential and commercial letting opportunities for a thriving, sustainable community. Harley Gallery I really enjoy spending time in the Harley Gallery: located on the historic Welbeck Estate near Worksop, the gallery houses a diverse selection of treasures from the Portland Collection, giving a rare opportunity to peek back into a bygone era. The Harley also has a contemporary gallery, with frequently changing exhibitions by exciting working artists. Even the gallery shop is a visual feast, with amazing ceramics, decorative glass and jewellery made by artisan craftsmen and women based in the Harley Foundation Workshops and Studios. Across the courtyard is the award-winning farm shop and Limehouse Café, where a cup of tea and slice of cake round-off a great afternoon!   School of Artisan Food The School of Artisan Food teaches artisan food production techniques, including baking, dairy, butchery, brewing and pickles and preserves. Based in the historic former fire-station courtyard at the heart of the Welbeck Estate, the school has inspired thousands of people to learn the skills to produce their own food at home. Many of the diploma course graduates have taken the life-changing decision to start their own artisan food businesses. Let me assure you, once you’ve made your own bread you won’t buy another supermarket loaf again!  

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Nottingham Contemporary Located in the Lace Market area in the centre of the city, Nottingham Contemporary offers challenging and stimulating contemporary exhibitions in a challenging and stimulating building! Designed by world-famous architects Caruso St John, Nottingham Contemporary is one of the largest contemporary arts centres in the UK, and from its earliest days has provided Nottingham with a vibrant public space – I love it!   Creswell Crags This limestone gorge is honeycombed with caves and smaller fissures, and is a real beauty-spot, great for a stroll with the family. It’s real claim to fame, however, is the cave-art, stone tools and animal remains discovered by archaeologists in the caves, and dating to the last Ice Age between 50,000 and 10,000 years ago. The recently-built Visitor Centre really does add to the experience with interesting special exhibitions, and the cave tours help to give a real sense of life at that time.