The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Halam

The former Palace of the Archbishop of York stands next door to the Minster, adjoining the present official residence of the Bishop of Southwell. The Palace as we see it today dates from the 14th Century and was wrecked during the Civil War. The ruined part can be admired up-close from the Palace Gardens. The surviving built part of the Palace – the Great Hall – was restored in the Edwardian era. The Hall retains its original proportions and the beams of the magnificent vaulted ceiling of the State Chamber are mostly medieval originals.

The earliest church on the site is believed to have been founded in 627 by Paulinus, the first Archbishop of York, when he visited the area while baptising believers in the River Trent. The legend is commemorated in the Minster's baptistry window. In 956 King Eadwig gave land in Southwell to Oskytel, Archbishop of York, on which a minster church was established. The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded the Southwell manor in great detail. The Norman reconstruction of the church began in 1108, probably as a rebuilding of the Anglo-Saxon church, starting at the east end so that the high altar could be used as soon as possible and the Saxon building was dismantled as work progressed. Many stones from this earlier Anglo-Saxon church were reused in the construction. The church was originally attached to the Archbishop of York's Palace which stood next door and is now ruined.

The Palace Gardens are a fantastic place to explore and discover our history through living plants. A beautiful landscape set amongst the magnificent ruins of The Archbishop’s Palace is packed with shrubs, flowering plants, mature trees and lawns. Work is underway to develop a new Physic Garden to provide visitors with the opportunity to learn more about the plants that would have been used to treat our medieval ancestors of their various maladies, from a broken heart to the plague. Garden sculptures and literature provide links to the famous ‘Leaves of Southwell’ – the 13th century carved stone leaves in the Minster’s Chapter House. The gardens encourage wildlife through the inclusion of bird boxes, insect hotels and log piles, as well as a several areas of wildflower, ensuring that our beautiful gardens are welcome to humans and wildlife alike.

Excavations, led by Charles Daniels, took place in the summer of 1959. They revealed parts of the Southern and eastern wings of what seemed to be a major villa, constructed around a courtyard. The eastern wing included a substantial bath building of which the cold plunge bath was uncovered. The small section of the south wing that was excavated contained six rooms all decorated with mosaic pavements.

The land, formerly occupied by the Minster School, contains remains of an extensive Roman villa. The school site was initially earmarked for housing development, but was purchased anonymously and then donated as indicated on the plaque.

Formerly one of the Archbishop’s deer parks and in the shadow of the Minster, you will find the delightful War Memorial Recreation Ground. As well as being the venue for several sporting activities, including tennis, football and bowls, the park is popular for easy strolls, picnics, a small nature reserve and childrens’ play areas.

St Michael's Church Halam is a Grade I listed Norman church, dating from the 12th century, and has some fine examples of stained glass, in particular the 15th-century medieval 'Adam and Eve’ window located in the chancel. It was restored from 1884 to 1889. It has a lovely Norman chancel arch much praised by Nicholas Pevsner.

Avoid during road rides. Especially after it has rained a few days before. It's gravelly at the beginning and then becomes muddy.