Things to do > Family > Country parks

Getting back to nature

Fortunately, Nottinghamshire is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty - and many tranquil country parks. These parks were created nearly 30 years ago to ensure everyone could enjoy the countryside. Today, they’re used by over a million people every year - from local residents and school groups to overseas tourists.

Sherwood Forest Country Park

Sherwood Forest Country Park contains some of the oldest trees in Europe, veteran oaks five centuries old and the world-famous Major Oak, still producing acorns after standing at the heart of Sherwood Forest for an amazing 800 years!

Of course, this is the legendary home of Robin Hood – and the site of one of the county’s most popular free festivals, the annual summer Robin Hood Festival.

Browse around the visitor centre shops or relax after a stroll in the Forest Table Restaurant. Take a walk along one of the fun family nature trails, or just admire the weird and wonderful shapes of the ancient oak trees, twisted by age and weathered into living sculptures.

Sherwood Forest has a unique ecology system: the natural decay of fallen wood means the woodland teems with insect life, fungi, birds and bats. In partnership with the Sherwood Trust, a woodland grazing project features Hebridean sheep and Dexter cattle ensure that open areas of medieval heathland do not revert to scrub. It’s little wonder that Sherwood Forest Country Park welcomes around 500,000 visitors each year.

Rufford Abbey and Country Park

Located near Ollerton, on the edge of the famous Sherwood Forest, Rufford Abbey's 150-acre park is one of Nottinghamshire’s most popular visitor attractions.

At its heart are the picturesque remains of a 12th century Cistercian monastery and later country house. Around these buildings lie charming gardens, meadows and woodland. The attractions of Rufford range from a contemporary craft centre with gallery exhibitions - check out the annual Earth & Fire Ceramics Fair in June - and ‘potters in residence’.  There’s plenty to do all year-round here – stroll around the woods, or explore the spooky Abbey ruins (said to be one of Nottinghamshire’s most haunted spots!).

Sherwood Pines Forest Park

Sherwood Pines Forest Park is the largest forest open to the public in the East Midlands and centre for a wide variety of outdoor activities. Facilities include Visitor Centre with cafe, cycle hire and children's adventure play trail. Waymarked woodland walks and mountain biking area.       

Bestwood Country Park

Mentioned in the Doomsday Book, this 650-acre park on the northern fringe of Nottingham boasts an incredible variety of different wildlife habitats. From Mill Lakes teeming with water birds, to meadows full of wild flowers, ancient oak woodland and a reclaimed coal tip, Bestwood has a landscape which reflects the varied history of Nottinghamshire itself. For example, the Winding Engine House, a splendid piece of industrial archaeology, is a memorial to the coal mining industry once so important to our economy.

If you're staying over in the city then check out our list of approved Nottingham hotels. Nottinghamshire and Sherwood Forest are great options for UK family holidays and our Robin Hood breaks website has everything you need. For that home away from home try our range of Nottingham bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) or our approved Nottingham holiday cottages.

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