In this life you should always expect the unexpected. It sounded like a simple trip to a spa hotel in the centre of the forest near Nottinghamshire’s Clumber Park but it turned into a real journey of discovery.

Although our spa experience in the forest, at the Clumber Park Hotel and Spa, was fabulous, it was the unknown Dukeries area of Nottinghamshire which really captured our imagination.

Tucked away from the main roads across the county is a historical area of grand homes, country parks, courtyards and walled gardens which, as well as evoking times past, is also great for today’s families to get out and enjoy on foot or by cycle.

Our journey of discovery started out at the vast area of Clumber Park which is today run by the National Trust.

Although the former Clumber House was demolished in 1938, there is still much to enjoy with acres of walking and cycling opportunities, a walled kitchen garden with every type of fruit and vegetables you could imagine, the Serpentine Lake and Clumber’s ‘mini cathedral’, the Church of St Mary, The Virgin.

Being new visitors to Nottinghamshire, my friend and I thought that was it and that Clumber Park, along with Sherwood Forest, was the full extent of the county’s parkland. How wrong we were. After exploring Clumber Park, we moved on to Thoresby Hall, another arm of the historical Dukeries area.  The Dukeries is an area of Nottinghamshire created from four ducal seats: Clumber, Thoresby Hall, Welbeck Abbey and Worksop Manor. Historically all these four houses were home to various dukes and duchesses, passed down through the generations.

Today Wellbeck is the only property still occupied by members of the original family.

Thoresby Hall, now a popular top class hotel and spa, includes acres of gardens and parkland. Looking down at the hall from the public car park, it was easy to imagine the scene in years gone by with crinoline clad ladies taking the air and horses and carriages driving through the park to collect their guests.

Autumn at Clumber Park
Autumn at Clumber Park

It’s a scene which could have stepped straight out of the pages of Pride & Prejudice or Sense & Sensibility and it’s very easy to imagine romantic hero Mr Darcy himself strolling across the country estate in his tailcoat and tall boots.

Thoresby Hall also has a magnificent Grade II listed courtyard, created from the former stables and coach house area, which is today home to a range of quality shops including a glass blower, jeweller and café.

Next stop was the Wellbeck Estate which is home to The Dukeries garden centre, Harley Art Gallery, a farmshop and café. All The Dukeries estates are found well off the beaten track and are working estates, employing local people.

To the visitor they are hidden gems. Away from the hustle and bustle, they open up another world, much of which remains unchanged from the past.

Where rooms have been converted into public spaces and attractions it has been very tastefully done with every effort made to preserve heritage.

In the early 20th Century however, The Dukeries was influenced by the underlying coalfields which led to problems with subsidence. Several mines opened and employed hundreds of local people but today there is hardly any sign of mining activity apart from Thoresby Colliery, which is centred on the nearby village of Edwinstowe.

A few miles away and situated on the Nottinghamshire – Derbyshire border was our final stop, Cresswell Crags, a historic limestone gorge which has significant importance in British prehistory.

Many stone tools and remains of animals have been found in the caves, helping to cast light on how our ancestors lived.

In 2003 evidence was found of rock art, drawn on the cave walls by Ice Age man.

Clumber Park Hotel & Spa
Clumber Park Hotel & Spa

These engravings of animals, birds and motifs are 13,000 years old, making Church Hole Cave the oldest art gallery in the country.

After a couple of days of exploring The Dukeries and the remnants of the Ice Age, we were delighted to get back to our hotel and dip our toes in the pool and outdoor hot tub, as well as enjoy some lovely modern day pamper treatments and a delicious meal in the hotel’s informal Normanton Inn.

Yes, we were spoiled rotten – but, hey, you only live once so you might as well enjoy it!

As guests of the Experience Nottinghamshire organisation, we can definitely say we really did experience much of what this county has to offer.

FACTFILE

Susan Hampshire stayed as a guest of the Clumber Park Hotel and Spa. Various room types are available and guests are welcome to make full use of the spa facilities. For latest trates call 01623 835333 or click www.clumberparkhotel.com.

Susan’s itinerary was organised by the Experience Nottinghamshire organisation.

Take a look at website www.experiencenottinghamshire.com for details of things to see and do across the county.