Top Five Walks to Enjoy in Nottinghamshire this Autumn

The nights are drawing in, there’s a chill in the air... autumn has well and truly arrived. While there’s lots to lament about the passing of summer, autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons to enjoy time spent in nature. In the words of Albert Camus, autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower, and whether you're wandering amongst the ancient oaks of Sherwood Forest or along Europe’s longest avenue of Lime Trees at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire has some spectacular spots to stretch your legs and embrace autumn's stunning seasonal displays.

So, dig out your cosiest jumper, find your space in one of these beauty spots and blow the cobwebs away as you enjoy the autumnal displays on one of these wonderful walks.

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Wollaton Hall and Deer Park
 

Standing on a natural hill three miles west of Nottingham City Centre, Wollaton Hall is set in five hundred acres of spectacular gardens and parkland. From the grandeur of its gardens to the stillness of its lake, Wollaton’s great outdoors are wonderful for a wander through crisp, crunchy leaves in the autumnal sunshine. We recommend starting with a wander around the Formal Gardens located at the back of the grand Wollaton Hall. Here you’ll find the Camellia House - the oldest cast-iron-framed glass house in Europe and the only remaining of its kind in this country - where the camellia flowers usually bloom between autumn to late spring. Follow the accessible paths to wander around the lake, or alternatively you can download a site map here and plot your own route.

Keep an eye out for the magnificent herds of red and fallow deer which have roamed the park since the fourteenth century. These wild deer are incredible to see, though during the rutting season (September and October), stags are protective of hinds so be mindful and keep a safe distance!

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Newstead Abbey
 

The landscapes which inspired poet Lord Byron are beautiful in autumn as the leaves change. The grand grounds are cultivated into 16 distinct themed gardens to explore, from the formal Rose Garden to a wild garden inspired by Benjamin Disraeli’s romantic novel Venetia. The Japanese Garden, one of the oldest surviving examples in the UK, is especially beautiful at this time of year, with the Japanese maples and acers resplendent with autumnal colour. You can download a map with a circular walk which takes you through each of the ‘oases’ here, and more information on self-guided walks through the grounds here.

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Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve
 

The stunning forest landscapes made famous the world over in the legends of Robin Hood make for an atmospheric autumnal afternoon out. Seek out the mysterious gnarled and hallowed out ancient oaks which twist into an array of unusual shapes on the Giants Trail, try the Greenwood Trail which is specially designed to celebrate seasonal change or be adventurous on the Wildwood Trail. The Sherwood Forest Trail Guide is available to collect free from the Tourism Centre, or you can download your own copy to print at home here.

We reccomend visiting and getting a picture with the Major Oak. Known throughout the world as the secret hiding place of Nottinghamshire's outlaw hero Robin Hood, it is the biggest oak tree in Britain and is thought to be between 800 and 1,000 years old.

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Clumber Park

Located in the beautiful Dukeries area of North Nottinghamshire, Clumber Park was home to the Dukes of Newcastle for over three centuries. Though the original mansion was demolished in 1938, the pleasure grounds and walled kitchen garden give you clues to its grand past. At the heart of this expansive National Trust property a superb 87 acre serpentine lake complete with a recently restored 200 year old ornamental stone bridge and gothic revival chapel. A wander down the longest avenue of Lime Trees in Europe is best enjoyed in autumn, with a golden carpet of leaves crunching beneath your feet. Their website has a range of recommended walks, from short strolls through peaceful woodland and across heathland to 6 mile routes around this fascinating estate.

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Welbeck Estate Hidden Gem Walk

Hearty and satisfying, a little comfort food is definitely one of our favourite ways to embrace autumn, so this circular walk starts and ends beside the multi award-winning Welbeck Farm Shop. In the shop you’ll find the internationally acclaimed ‘Stichelton’ blue cheese, made with milk from the estate’s pedigree dairy herd, artisan breads and pastries from the Welbeck Bakehouse, and handcrafted ales from Welbeck Abbey Brewery alongside a wide array of deli items and locally grown veg. If that’s not enough to tempt you already, the 2.5 mile route will take you through scenic countryside, including the majestic limestone gorge of Creswell Crags and the picturesque village of Holbeck. Don’t forget to check out the exhibitions at Harley Gallery while you’re there. Find out more and download the trail here.