My Favourite Spots in Nottinghamshire by Dr. David Cross

This week we are sharing Dr. David Cross’s favourite places in Nottinghamshire. If you would like to share your ‘favourites’ with us, email us at social@experiencenottinghamshire.com or use the comment section below. You may feature on our blog and our various social media platforms.   Dr. David Cross has been running the Nottingham Ghost Walk for nearly 20 years. Every Saturday evening, he takes a new group of people around the streets of Nottingham and tells them of the city's ghostly residents. We recently tried it ourselves too and you can read about it here. Dr. David Cross also runs the Heroes & Villains tour, a venture around some of Nottingham's most interesting characters. The Nottingham Ghost Walk will celebrate their 20th anniversary next Easter. "Misk Hills, near Eastwood – D.H. Lawrence's “the country of my heart”, and the setting for many of his stories. A lovely area for a Sunday ramble or a walk with the dog. Moorgreen Reservoir, Haggs Farm, the pond where Lawrence 'threw stones at the moon' and wild deer roaming about. Nearby is Vine Cottage at Brinsley, next to the old railway line (now another great walking route) and the replaced mining Headstocks, which was the setting for Lawrence's famous short story 'Odour of Chrysanthemums' - wonderfully evocative settings. Rufford Abbey - A regular visit with the dog on a weekend, well worth the £3 parking. Round the lake, through the woods, watch the squirrels, smell the old Abbey stone - and round it all off with the tastiest sausage cobs in the county! Newstead Abbey - Only a few minutes away from home for us and wonderfully atmospheric (not to mentioned haunted!). A fabulous walk any time of year. You can almost hear Byron smooching his ladies in the secret nooks of the Japanese garden. Low and Middle Pavements - My favourite streets in Nottingham, especially at night when floodlit. Just look up at the buildings, instead of level at the shop fronts, wonderful Regency elegance. The soft glow of the sandstone gives you just a hint of how these buildings must have appeared in gas light or torch light in centuries past. Bravissimo, Pelham Street -  I'm risking including a lingerie shop – no, not for THAT reason – but because the interior of this famous Victorian architect's building, Fothergill Watson, is out of this world – more like Newstead Abbey than a shop. Nip in when you next pass and see the 'mortgage monkey' (a small carving of a monkey with a chain wrapped round him, symbolising debt) which Fothergill Watson's wicked sense of humour included for his client – the building was originally a bank! May Sum, Upper Parliament Street - Been here dozens of times, and it's always a good feed at budget prices. I particularly like buffet-style restaurants as you get to pick exactly what you want. Feeling peckish just writing about it. Salutation Inn caves - It's almost 20 years since we started the Nottingham Ghost Walk based at the Salutation Inn. I've spent so much time here that it feels like a second home. To have fantastic caves like this, that are easily accessible, is a wonderful 'plus' for tourism and they are SO atmospheric. A huge 'thank you' to current landlord, Pete, and all past landlords for still allowing access. Just hope when you visit the caves, that the lights don't go out … ."