Vicar Water Country Park

Vicar Water Country Park, near Clipstone village in Nottinghamshire, has amazing scenery with woodland, grassland, and heathland that all feature plenty of wildlife. The park, a former colliery site, has been designated a Local Nature Reserve and has wildlife including tufted ducks, kingfishers, and herons. 

Its heathland has green woodpeckers, common lizards, and tree pipits among its many species. The grassland has rare grasses and flowers including bee orchids, harebell, and field scabious, and the woodland includes broadleaved and coniferous trees. There is also a large fishing lake at the centre of the park at Vicar Pond that was created in the 1870s by the fifth Duke of Portland that is a popular spot for coarse fishing. 

There are a number of cycle and walking paths including the Sustrans National Route 6 and the Timberland Trail.

Facilities
Café, children's play area, toilets

How to get there
By car: Exit at junction 27 of the M1 and take the A608 exit to Mansfield. Continue on Mansfield Road/A608 to Clipstone. 
By train: Mansfield Woodhouse train station (3.9 miles). 

Website: Vicar Water Country Park

Visit this destination on the Sherwood Pines Loop from Kirkby in Ashfield cycle trail