Arrived early today and the girls enjoyed the freedom of the play park before it became busier. The coffee was absolutely delicious and extra hot as I asked for. Several choices of ice cream were out of stock but given the weather that we have been enjoying I'm not surprised. Then a lovely refreshing walk taking note of the wooden animals along the way. Good to see the cow's aswell. A great way to spend 3 hours.

Gedling Country Park is one of Nottinghamshire’s most enjoyable outdoor spaces, offering a well-balanced mix of scenic walking routes, open countryside, and accessible facilities. Built on the former Gedling Colliery site and opened in 2015, the park spans around 580 acres, providing plenty of room for exploration, relaxation, and exercise.  One of the standout features of the park is its map system, which makes navigating the area straightforward even for first-time visitors. At key points—especially near the car park, visitor centre, and central lagoon—you’ll find large, clear map boards showing multiple walking routes. These maps typically highlight circular trails of varying lengths, meaning you can easily choose a short stroll or a longer walk without getting lost.  The main circular route is roughly 4.7–5 km long and takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, with some moderate hills along the way.  The map does a particularly good job of marking key landmarks such as the North and South viewing platforms, woodland areas, and open meadows. These landmarks act as natural checkpoints, so even without constantly checking the map, it’s easy to stay oriented. What makes the map especially useful is how it connects with the park’s layout. Paths are generally well signposted, and many routes loop back toward the café and main entrance, reducing the risk of confusion. There are also themed trails, such as tree walks and wildlife routes, which are often marked on the map and supported by signage around the park. In terms of the overall experience, the park offers stunning panoramic views across Nottinghamshire and beyond, along with wildlife spotting opportunities and peaceful green spaces. Visitors often highlight how easy it is to follow the trails thanks to the clear signage and logical route design.  Overall, Gedling Country Park scores highly for both its natural beauty and its well-designed map system. Whether you’re a casual walker, a runner, or visiting with family, the clear layout and accessible routes make it a stress-free and enjoyable place to explore.

A nice, clean and well-kept park overall, and a pleasant place to spend some time with the family. That said, a couple of things could be improved. Parking used to be free, but is now paid, which is a bit disappointing and takes away from the overall experience. The children’s play area could also do with some maintenance. One of the rope swings is hanging quite low, making it awkward for kids to use, and the ground underneath is starting to show some wear where the fixings are exposed. The café is decent, but it tends to close quite early, which is not always convenient. Still a good local park, but a few improvements would easily make it better.

Such a relaxing spot for a stroll. Only a short drive away, yet it feels worlds apart from the hustle and bustle. The sunlight through the trees and the open water views make it feel very open and restorative. A local treasure

Visited here for the first time with my reactive dog. Didn't know what to expect but essentially it seems to be a circular walk with gravel footpaths - ideal for muddy weather and I saw a few people with prams. In terms of suitability for reactive dogs - visibility isn't the best and will be worse in warmer months. The paths are wide enough for vans to drive down and there are plenty of passing places available if you need to give yourself more space. Beware some of the paths allow dogs off lead, although refreshingly everyone I passed was able to recall their dogs and put them on leads when necessary. I visited on a half-term day so it was exceptionally busy in the car park yet the paths weren't too busy - it seemed that lots of parents and children were making use of the play area. It seems that whichever path you take you may end up at the play area and although there are two paths both had children playing close by, so personally I would not take a child reactive dog there again during holidays or weekends. Apart from that I'm not sure about the amenities as I didn't look but it seemed a good enough walk if you want an hour somewhere you're not going to get too muddy. Loads of parking.