Arnold’s biggest
Gedling Country Park
Park or garden
92 ha (228 acres)9.0 km of path
2 hto walk all 9 km of path
129 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.6 mi eastfrom the centre
ViewpointButterfly Walk
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: David Hallam-Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0BOutdoors Grade
Outdoors in Arnold · parks, paths & countryside
Arnold has more footpath per square kilometre than 8 in 10 UK towns
Footpaths add up to 108 km in the town and the kilometre around it, 4.2 for every square kilometre. Parks and playing fields in Arnold add up to 3.0 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. A park or playing field is within a 5-minute walk for 81% of residents. Arnold grades B for the outdoors: #23 of 49 in Nottinghamshire. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
3.0 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
81%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
108 km
4.2 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
0%
of the land within 5 km
Outdoors grade
Arnold grades B for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Arnold, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
B
Better than 62% of UK towns#23 of 49 in Nottinghamshire · 31st of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space3.0 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
69out of
100
100
A park within a walk81%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
49out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape0%of the land within 5 km · None within 5 km
31out of
100
100
Footpaths4.2 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
84out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland
42out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Arnold is 31st of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 35,500 to 45,400 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Arnold4.2
Towns its size3.7
Nottinghamshire towns3.0
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Arnold3.0
Towns its size2.5
Nottinghamshire towns2.4
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Arnold81%
Towns its size84%
Nottinghamshire towns81%
All UK towns83%
Against towns its size, Arnold stands out most for park space per resident: only 23 of the other 59 have more.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Locks Heath Hampshire | A+ | 3.5 | 91% | 3.7 | 4% |
| 2 | Dover Kent | A+ | 3 | 86% | 2.9 | 29% |
| 3 | Hyde Greater Manchester | A | 4.3 | 91% | 3.9 | 1% |
| 4 | Wrexham Clwyd | A | 3.8 | 92% | 3.9 | 2% |
| 5 | Epsom Surrey | A | 5.7 | 80% | 4.8 | 2% |
| 6 | Aldershot Hampshire | A | 3.4 | 77% | 6.3 | 17% |
| 7 | Wallsend Tyne and Wear | A | 6 | 93% | 5.7 | 0% |
| 8 | Merthyr Tydfil Mid Glamorgan | A | 3.3 | 89% | 3.2 | 29% |
| 9 | Haywards Heath West Sussex | A | 2.4 | 84% | 4.2 | 44% |
| 10 | Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex | A | 1.7 | 83% | 3.4 | 13% |
| 11 | Ilkeston Derbyshire | A | 3.7 | 98% | 5 | 0% |
| 12 | Bletchley Buckinghamshire | A | 4.1 | 91% | 5.9 | 0% |
| 13 | Llanelli Dyfed | A− | 2.3 | 85% | 2.4 | 18% |
| 14 | Trowbridge Wiltshire | A− | 2.3 | 91% | 4.3 | 3% |
| 15 | Sutton in Ashfield Nottinghamshire | A− | 4.3 | 94% | 4 | 0% |
| 16 | Chorley Lancashire | A− | 5 | 88% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 17 | Bamber Bridge Lancashire | A− | 6.4 | 88% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 18 | Hoddesdon Hertfordshire | A− | 6.5 | 82% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 19 | Exmouth Devon | A− | 1.4 | 82% | 2.6 | 21% |
| 20 | Leyland Lancashire | B+ | 4.6 | 91% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 21 | Cheshunt Hertfordshire | B+ | 4.8 | 79% | 4.9 | 0% |
| 22 | Chippenham Wiltshire | B+ | 2.8 | 76% | 3.9 | 7% |
| 23 | Newbury Berkshire | B+ | 1.9 | 81% | 3.3 | 50% |
| 24 | Hatfield Hertfordshire | B+ | 2.8 | 84% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 25 | Fleet Hampshire | B+ | 3.3 | 79% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 26 | Hucknall Nottinghamshire | B+ | 3 | 87% | 4 | 0% |
| 27 | Aberdare Mid Glamorgan | B+ | 4.6 | 84% | 1.8 | 19% |
| 28 | Rowley Regis West Midlands | B+ | 4.1 | 71% | 5.5 | 0% |
| 29 | Batley West Yorkshire | B+ | 2.7 | 94% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 30 | West Bridgford Nottinghamshire | B+ | 2.2 | 86% | 7.7 | 0% |
| 31 | Arnold Nottinghamshire | B | 3 | 81% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 32 | Whitley Bay Tyne and Wear | B | 1.9 | 82% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 33 | Warwick Warwickshire | B | 3 | 85% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 34 | Denton Greater Manchester | B | 2.4 | 88% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 35 | Bishop's Stortford Hertfordshire | B | 2.3 | 80% | 6.8 | 0% |
| 36 | Ramsgate Kent | B | 1.2 | 89% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 37 | Borehamwood Hertfordshire | B | 1.8 | 97% | 3.9 | 0% |
| 38 | Prescot Merseyside | B | 3.5 | 94% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 39 | Bicester Oxfordshire | B | 2.1 | 99% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 40 | Blyth Northumberland | B | 1.6 | 83% | 2.8 | 0% |
| 41 | Castleford West Yorkshire | B | 2.3 | 92% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 42 | Fareham Hampshire | B | 1.1 | 48% | 4 | 2% |
| 43 | Chadderton Greater Manchester | B | 1.9 | 87% | 4.6 | 0% |
| 44 | Redcar North Yorkshire | B− | 2.6 | 79% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 45 | Bury St Edmunds Suffolk | B− | 3 | 78% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 46 | Oldbury West Midlands | B− | 3 | 68% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 47 | Eccles Greater Manchester | B− | 2.7 | 93% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 48 | Lytham St Anne's Lancashire | B− | 2.4 | 83% | 1.5 | 0% |
| 49 | Canvey Island Essex | B− | 1.5 | 86% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 50 | Tonbridge Kent | B− | 2.1 | 65% | 2.6 | 38% |
| 51 | Braintree Essex | B− | 1.7 | 89% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 52 | Camberley Surrey | C+ | 2 | 73% | 4.8 | 0% |
| 53 | Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire | C+ | 1.5 | 85% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 54 | Urmston Greater Manchester | C+ | 1.7 | 79% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 55 | Neath West Glamorgan | C | 2 | 80% | 1.4 | 0% |
| 56 | Long Eaton Derbyshire | C | 1.8 | 74% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 57 | Grays Essex | C | 1.2 | 83% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 58 | Boston Lincolnshire | C− | 2.1 | 78% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 59 | Worksop Nottinghamshire | C− | 1.3 | 75% | 3 | 0% |
| 60 | Grantham Lincolnshire | D | 0.9 | 69% | 2.7 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Arnold’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Arnold
The biggest is Gedling Country Park, 92 ha (228 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 7 named parks by size: 131 ha (324 acres) and 17 km of path
Parks & gardens 121 haPlaying fields 9.9 ha
The two biggest, Gedling Country Park and Woodthorpe Grange Park, are 83% of the named green space and carry 11 km of path between them.
Woodthorpe Grange Park
Park or garden
17 ha (42 acres)2.3 km of path
30 minto walk all 2.3 km of path
24 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.2 mi southfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Arnot Hill Park
Park or garden
6.8 ha (17 acres)1.6 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.6 km of path
9 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.5 mi westfrom the centre
1 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Sunken Gardens
Park or garden
3.0 ha (8 acres)1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
4 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi southfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Edwards Lane Community Park
Park or garden
2.0 ha (5 acres)1.2 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.2 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1 mi south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Mellish Rugby Football Club
Playing field
6.8 ha (17 acres)
9 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
King George's Field
Playing field
3.1 ha (8 acres)0.7 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.7 km of path
4 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Arnold
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Close to home
8 in 10 Arnold residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (81%)Further (19%)
Arnold81%
Towns its size84%
Nottinghamshire towns81%
All UK towns83%
About 7,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 65 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 616 residents.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
2 waymarked walks pass through or near Arnold
108 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Arnold and the kilometre around it, 4.2 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
RegionalOther waymarked
Hucknall Road Walkway2.1 km
Robin Hood Way2.0 km
The regional route here is the Robin Hood Way.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
When to get out
The best walking months in Arnold: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.1 | 9.8 | 11.7 | 13.9 | 15.8 | 16.9 | 16.4 | 14.7 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 8.6 | 7.6 |
| High (°C) | 7 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
| Rain (mm) | 58 | 47 | 43 | 47 | 51 | 67 | 69 | 68 | 58 | 75 | 67 | 67 |
March is the driest month (43 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 22 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 75 mm of rain falls in October, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 36 nights a year. The climate in Arnold →
Things to do
2 viewpoints, 65 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
The nearest beaches
Arnold is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
The Beach11 mi from Arnold’s edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 2
South Viewing Platform0.5 mi from town
DirectionsNorth Viewing Platform0.6 mi from town
DirectionsNature reserves 7
Faith Marroit Nature Reserve0.6 ha · in town
DirectionsCalverton Road Nature Reserve2.9 ha · 0.1 mi from town
DirectionsWoodthorpe Meadow Nature Reserve0.6 ha · 0.1 mi from town
DirectionsSandy Banks Local Nature Reserve5.7 ha · 0.3 mi from town
DirectionsSunrise Hill1.5 ha · 0.3 mi from town
DirectionsElliot Durham Nature Area1.8 ha · 0.5 mi from town
DirectionsBonney Doles3.5 ha · 0.7 mi from town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 65
Stanhope School Play Area0.6 mi from town
DirectionsThe Ridge Adventure Playground0.6 mi from town
DirectionsPirate Park Play Area0.8 mi from town
DirectionsPearmain Park Play Area1.0 mi from town
DirectionsNottingham Parkour Park1.2 mi from town
DirectionsPriory Junior Playground1.2 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 59 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
CarltonBestwood VillageNottinghamCalvertonWoodboroughHucknallArnold
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold | B | 3.0 | 81% | 0% |
| Carlton 2.3 mi | B+ | 4.9 | 82% | 0% |
| Bestwood Village 2.8 mi | A | 43.8 | 100% | 0% |
| Nottingham 3.0 mi | B+ | 2.4 | 87% | 0% |
| Calverton 3.0 mi | C− | 1.7 | 62% | 0% |
| Woodborough 3.0 mi | D− | 1.0 | 45% | 0% |
| Hucknall 4.3 mi | B+ | 3.0 | 87% | 0% |
Bestwood Village, 2.8 miles away, grades A, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park. Bestwood Village has at least twice Arnold’s green space per resident. None of the neighbours has a protected landscape within 5 km either.
Questions about the outdoors in Arnold
What is the biggest park in Arnold?
Gedling Country Park, 92 ha (228 acres), with 9 km of path. Woodthorpe Grange Park (17 ha) is second. 7 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Arnold near a National Park?
No National Park or National Landscape is within 30 km (about 19 miles) of Arnold.
What are the best walks near Arnold?
2 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Hucknall Road Walkway and Robin Hood Way. Gedling Country Park alone has 9 km of path.
What is the nearest beach to Arnold?
The Beach, 11 mi from the edge of the town. Arnold itself is inland.
How many people in Arnold live near a park?
81% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Arnold?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Arnold good for walking?
For paths, yes: 4.2 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 84% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 69% (3.0 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Arnold’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Arnold’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.