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Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire is the last surviving tract of primeval forest in England. In medieval times it was a royal hunting forest – the shire or sher wood of Nottinghamshire – and it became the setting for the legend of Robin Hood. Other attractions around the fringes of the forest are Clumber Park, Rufford Abbey, and the village of Southwell near Newark. The forest surrounds the village of Edwinstone, where they relentlessly market the Robin Hood link. (As they need to – it was a mining village until 2014, when Thoresby Colliery closed.) There are various themed events here especially during school holidays, and visitor facilities. Most visitors come on day-trips: if you plan to stay over and have your own transport, Southwell or Newark are better bases.
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Visitor Centre
Can get very busy but includes an interesting display about the forest's history and ecosystem. Café and toilets here. Dogs welcome.
About ½ mile from the Centre along a well-marked, wheelchair accessible track. The Major Oak is the oldest of the more than 900 ancient oaks here and could well be 1000 years old. (So in Robin Hood's time it was small and insignificant, the obvious meeting point was at Thynghowe.) This part of the forest can be busy but carry on to find quiet glades and mysterious paths.
Dates from 1185 so hundreds of forest dwellers have been baptised, married and buried here. Inevitably it's touted as the place where Robin Hood and Maid Marian got married, but since she only showed up in legend 300 years later, she sure kept him waiting.
Run by the National Trust, this extensive park has an elegant serpentine lake. Formerly the home of the Dukes of Newcastle, but the mansion fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1938. The 1889 Church of St Mary (not to be confused with the one in Edwinstowe) remains in use and is a Grade I listed building in Gothic Revival style.
Rufford Park
Ruins of Cistercian Abbey, and part-ruined part-restored mansion house, set in an extensive park.
Run by the Forestry Commission. You can "Go Ape" (yes, that's what they call it) on a harness and swing around a large assault course suspended in the treetops. The adventure playground for kids is also excellent if you're taking a family. Sherwood Pines also host "Forest Live" rock concerts, check their website.
This is, you guessed it, a fish & chip shop.
Clean & friendly youth hostel in modern red-brick building. Room for 48, family bunk rooms available. Adults from £15. Often block-booked for school parties and similar events.
Holiday village. It contains a domed faux-tropical swimming pool with chutes and a wave machine, as well as a lake for sailing and windsurfing. Prices in the stores in the holiday village are a lot higher than at the Co-op in Edwinstowe village.
Log cabins with activities eg archery. Cheaper and quieter than Center Parcs nearby.
Campsite & caravan park on riverbank.
By bus
The Stagecoach Sherwood Arrow runs from Nottingham Victoria Bus Station, dropping off at the Visitor Centre and Edwinstowe village. It takes an hour and runs hourly M-Sa and every two hours Sundays.
By train
Mansfield station 7 miles away has a train every 30 min from Nottingham, taking 30 min, alternate trains continue to Worksop.
By air
The nearest major airport, with good connections across West Europe, is East Midlands Airport (EMA) about 35 miles southwest.
Edwinstowe is a small place so walking is the method of choice. Local taxi services will take you further but ask for a quote before travelling. Those staying at Center Parcs can hire bikes there.
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Nottingham, Leicestershire · International · EMA
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