The winter walk at a 'top secret WW2 test site' in Nottinghamshire

You can’t be blamed for spending an increased amount of time indoors at this time of year. With cold, dark days now upon us, it’s easy to spend hours in-front of the telly binging on series after series. 

But spending time outdoors is even more vital at this time of year, both for our physical and mental health. Walking is a great way to keep active during winter, especially if you know some scenic routes. 

Here in Nottinghamshire we’re lucky to have so many picturesque spots for walking and many of them are stooped in history.  That can certainly be said for Clumber Park, near Worksop. 

Read more: Things to do in Nottinghamshire

These days, the National Trust-managed park is a popular place for walkers to explore (more on that later), but 80 years ago it played a key role in the Second World War. 

During the war, the 3,800-acre park stored more than 60,000 tons of munitions. 

But perhaps the park’s strongest link to the Second World War concerns the country’s then-prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill. 

In 1941, Clumber Park was used for secret trials using a trench-digging tank code-named MH956. 

Churchill wanted a machine capable of digging large trenches through no man's land, and in November 1941 he visited the park to watch a demonstration of the contraption nicknamed ‘Nellie’.

Despite the success of the machine, it was never used in the war due to changes in the nature of warfare.

If you’re looking for a walk that combines natural beauty with history this winter, the National Trust has created a Second World War trail at Clumber Park.

The six-mile walk takes you past areas that were used during the war and gives a sense of the park’s former use. 

Use our handy interactive map below to navigate the walk, which should take you between two and three hours: