Sherwood Forest Country Park And Visitor Centre In The Birklands
(4 miles from Blue Bell Self Catering Holiday Cottage in the heart of Sherwood Forest Robin Hood Country)
Sherwood Forest Country Park is part of ‘The Birklands’, a National Nature Reserve. It also attracts thousands of people each year who come to visit the famous ‘Major Oak’, the legendary hiding place of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. It is estimated to be nearly a thousand years old and is one of the largest oaks in the country, the trunk having a girth of 10 metres and a branch spread of 28 metres. Sherwood Forest Country Park has over 450 acres of ancient woodland to explore, comprising native oak, birch, rowan, holly and hawthorn trees with a wonderful habitat for a variety of rare wildlife. There is also The Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, shops (selling Robin Hood and The Major Oak -related souvenirs among other items), an adventure playground, activity centre, Robin Hood Exhibition and café.
Location/ parking: Edwinstowe (Sherwood Forest Country Park is signposted from Edwinstowe Village). A car parking charge is applied at certain times during the year
Admission: Free
Open: Sherwood Forest Park – dawn to dusk,
Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre – April-Oct (10.00am-5pm), November-March (10.00am-4.30pm)
Contact: Tel: 01623 823202
Sherwood Pines Forest Park
(4.4 miles from Blue Bell Self Catering Holiday Cottage in the heart of Sherwood Forest Robin Hood Country)
Sherwood Pines Forest Park, owned and managed by the Forestry Commission, is the place to experience outdoor adventure in the heart of Sherwood Forest. Waymarked routes are set out for walkers and cyclists and there is even a special area dedicated to mountain-bikers. Cycles can also be hired from the Sherwood Pines Visitor Centre, which includes a café and shop. An adventure trail provides amusement especially for children.
In addition ‘Go Ape’ provides high-wire aerial thrills through the trees for those aged 10 and over (pre-booking is essential), telephone 0870 444 5562 for prices/opening hours or visit the Go Ape website for more information.
Location/parking: The Sherwood Pines Centre is situated off the B6030 between Kings Clipstone and Ollerton in the heart of Sherwood Forest. There is a small charge for car parking
Admission: Entry to the Park is free
Open: Sherwood Pines is open Daily, dawn to dusk
Contact: The Forestry Commission on 01623 822447 or visit www.forestry.gov.uk for more information
Sherwood Heath
(0.5 miles from Blue Bell Self Catering Holiday Cottage in the heart of Sherwood Forest Robin Hood Country)
A local Nature Reserve and SSSI, Sherwood Heath is part of the historic Royal hunting forest of Sherwood Forest’s ancient heathland. It is a vital habitat for some of the rarest plants and creatures that are specially adapted to survive on the nutrient-poor, acidic, sandy soils. Flora and fauna that were in decline are now manage
d by The Sherwood Forest Trust, who are restoring traditional heathland species and controlling invasive birch and bracken. Sherwood Heath is a delightful place to explore and discover the fascinating heritage of the Sherwood Forest area.
Location/parking: New Ollerton. Access and parking (free) are adjacent to the Alders Pub at Ollerton Roundabout
Admission: Free
Open: Sherwood Heath is open daily
Contact: For more information about the Sherwood Heath’s restoration and events and activities contact the Sherwood Forest Trust on 01623 758231 or visit www.sherwoodforest.org.uk
Picnic tables and benches are available for the self catering.
Boughton Brake
(0.5 miles from Blue Bell Self Catering Holiday Cottage in the heart of Sherwood Forest Robin Hood Country)
This 123-acre area of community woodland is managed by the Friends of Boughton Brake (FUBB) who, over the years, have carried out wide-ranging environmental improvements to the wood – putting up nes
t boxes, planting broadleaf trees and creating mini-habitats, including ponds, which are now teeming with wildlife. One major achievement has been the creation of the ‘Whitewater Trail’ – a surfaced path suitable for wheelchairs
Location/parking: Boughton. Access is adjacent to Boughton Pumping Station.
Parking (free) is available adjacent to Boughton Pumping Station (signposted from New Ollerton)
SAT NAV use NG22 9NE
Admission: Free
Open: Daily
Contact: More information, including details of walking routes, can be obtained from reception at Boughton Pumping Station or by contacting Kath Parkes at FUBB on 01623 863413
Cresswell Crags (Unesco Heritage Application Site)
10.6 miles from Blue Bell Holiday Cottage
The enclosed limestone gorge on the edge of Sherwood Forest contains several caves occupi
ed between 10,000 to 43,000 years age, together with evidence of earlier Neanderthal settlement www.unesco.org.
Featuring the most northerly known cave art, the site is open to the public (English Heritage) and has a small museum of objects associated with the caves, short trails and children’s playpark.
Cave tours run from February to November daily, November to January weekends only.
Booking recommended on 01909 7720378. Sat Nav S80 3LH
More Details visit www.creswell-crags.org.uk