As days lengthen and weather warms up, Nottinghamshire becomes a bustling haven for people looking to escape the clutches of winter. Spring renews life in this ancient county, with visitor figures already demonstrating strong signs of recovery. Recent tourism figures indicate that Nottinghamshire hosted more than 34 million visitors in 2023 and injected a staggering £2.36 billion into the local economy. For locals and visitors alike, spring presents the best time to visit the county’s varied attractions.
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When it’s time to step outside, head to Gedling Country Park, the perfect destination for those wanting to enjoy the great outdoors this spring. Covering 580 acres of open countryside, it bursts into a stunning array of colours during the season. Since its transformation in 2015, this former colliery surface has been reshaped into a vibrant and inviting green space.
Discovering Gedling Country Park’s natural beauty is the go-to destination for those who want to hit the outdoors this spring. It comprises 580 acres of open country that burst into a riot of colour during spring. Since it opened in 2015, this former old colliery surface has been transformed into a nature enthusiast’s haven. It provides numerous walking trails to follow, breathtaking views from two viewpoints, or simply an atmosphere of peace to be savoured.
The park offers a network of colour-coded trails suitable for varying fitness levels and accessibility needs. For a relaxing experience, the High Hazles (Blue) trail is 1.4 km long with gentle slopes that are wheelchair accessible.
This easier route has a lovely nature trail where visitors can discover wooden sculptures of eight animals created by local artist Peter Leadbetter, including an owl, rabbit, mole, and heron tastefully integrated into the landscape. More adventurous explorers can tackle the Top Hard (Red) route, 2.8 km long with steep inclines, or the Low Hazles (Green) route—the park’s longest at 5.7 km with many steep hills.
Keeping with the outdoors, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Skylarks Nature Reserve offers great opportunities for sightings of spring wildlife and peaceful picnics. Attenborough Nature Reserve also offers excellent trails for strolling through, where visitors can see migratory birds coming for the warmer periods of the year.
In spring, Skylarks Nature Reserve is embellished with rich foliage. From late February to May, moist woodland floors are dominated by heart-shaped Lesser Celandine leaves, while Blackthorn trees yield a snowy backdrop as they flower with fragrant white blooms between March and April. Visitors in early spring can be fortunate enough to spot rare birds during the spring migration season. Very lucky observers can even spot some of the reserve’s more shy residents like harvest mice, otters, and even bats.
For any history buffs, the riverside walk at Newark Castle is the perfect location. The picturesque walk along the mighty River Trent offers stunning views of the remains of the 12th-century castle, with blossoming trees and new leaves as a scenic backdrop.
The flat 2 km Riverside Park Loop with minimal gradient ensures that all visitors of any ability can enjoy this walk. Beautifully tended Green Flag award-winning gardens surround the castle, creating a dazzling display of spring colour to offset the ancient masonry.
Walking beneath the spectacular Trent Bridge through a quaint wooden promenade, visitors can follow well-marked paths that meander along the water’s edge. Nature enthusiasts will be delighted to spot migratory birds returning for spring, swans, and ducks lining the riverbanks during spring. For those wishing to extend the experience, the Edwardian river cruiser M.V. Sonning offers seasonal trips on the River Trent, providing another perspective of this historic landscape.
Meanwhile, only 8 km from Nottingham’s centre, Oldmoor Wood provides one of the most magical spring views in the area — a dense carpet of native bluebells forming an unearthly sea of blue under newly emergent beech leaves.
This ancient wood, just off the M1 motorway at Strelley, is transformed each April and May when bluebell flowers before the tree canopy closes over. The woodland floor is carpeted with these delicate, nodding flowers.
Access is from a lane opposite Strelley Hall, with very little parking space for 1–2 cars. Keep to established paths — bluebells are fragile and bruised easily by footfall. Paths can be wet after rainfall, and suitable footwear should be worn. Go midweek for a more peaceful visit amidst this stunning display of Britain’s favorite spring wildflower
