Nature & gardens · 10:00–11:45 (1h45m)
The Pavilion Gardens
Playgrounds and the miniature railway; café in the pavilion.
An indoor and outdoor nature reserve in Buxton.
- Café on site
Photo: paviliongardens.co.uk
Buxton
Poole's Cavern & Buxton Country Park · Photo: Eirian Evans
Start in Buxton's Victorian Pavilion Gardens with playgrounds and a miniature railway, then walk or drive up to Poole's Cavern for a guided tour among stalactites and a wander in the woods.
Nature & gardens · 10:00–11:45 (1h45m)
Playgrounds and the miniature railway; café in the pavilion.
An indoor and outdoor nature reserve in Buxton.
Photo: paviliongardens.co.uk
Adventure · 12:30–14:30 (2h)
Pre-booked 45-minute cave tour, then woodland paths.
A natural limestone cavern on the edge of Buxton with 45-minute guided tours past stalactites, set within a woodland country park with trails up to Solomon's Temple folly. Cave tours must be booked ahead.
Photo: Eirian Evans
Edwinstowe
Walk out to the thousand-year-old Major Oak and build dens near the visitor centre in the morning. After a picnic, drive a few minutes to Sherwood Pines for story trails, play areas and family bike rides through the pines.
Sherwood Forest Country Park → Sherwood Pines
Newtown Linford
Walk among red and fallow deer at Bradgate Park and paddle in the stream before lunch. In the afternoon, head to Loughborough for a heritage steam train ride.
Bradgate Park Leicester → Great Central Railway
East MidlandsLincoln
Explore the Victorian prison and see an original Magna Carta at Lincoln Castle, then cross the square to hunt for the Lincoln Imp in the cathedral. Finish in the Arboretum, a free Victorian park with a lake.
Lincoln Castle → Lincoln Cathedral → Lincoln Arboretum