Attenborough Nature Reserve

Attenborough Nature Reserve is a large wildlife haven on the outskirts of Nottingham, offering miles of trails, bird hides and open lakeside paths where dogs on leads are welcome year-round. The reserve sits on a network of flooded gravel pits now teeming with wildfowl, wildflowers and plenty of sniff-worthy bankside to explore. It's a proper full-morning ramble or lazy afternoon circuit and the on-site car park makes arrival straightforward—free for the first half-hour, then standard Wildlife Trust charges apply.

Well-behaved dogs are also welcome inside the visitor centre, so you can pop in together after a muddy loop to browse the shop or plan your next trail without leaving anyone tied up outside. The café serves hot drinks and light food if you need to refuel.

The reserve is open from 8am to 8pm daily, with the visitor centre and café keeping 9am to 5pm hours in winter and extending to 6pm at weekends in summer. The car park closes at dusk, so time your visit accordingly.