This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
A patchwork of woodlands, rolling hills and storybook villages, Sherwood Forest is far more than Robin Hood’s legendary hideout. An hour’s drive north of Nottingham, the area is primed for outdoor pursuits with walking routes criss-crossing forests and farmland. References to Nottinghamshire’s most famous outlaw can be found throughout the region, but it’s the storied forest — now designated a 1,000-acre national nature reserve — that takes centre stage in any season. To explore the broader region, hire a car.
What to do in Sherwood Forest
Once a royal hunting ground, the gnarly oak forest at Sherwood is one of the finest surviving ancient oak woodlands in the UK. Four trails, from under a mile to four miles long, wind past the 1,000-year-old Major Oak, which has been cited as Robin Hood’s hideout. The 15,000-acre Welbeck Estate, located within Sherwood Forest and the seat of the Dukes of Portland, is another great hiking spot. Or browse the family’s world-class art collection at The Portland Collection and next-door Harley Gallery for award-winning contemporary art exhibitions. A 15-minute-drive south, a vastly different landscape awaits at Sherwood Pines, where walking, running and mountain biking are all on offer.
Where to stay in Sherwood Forest
Overlooking rolling hills in the village of Welbeck, Holbeck Farm Barns consists of five holiday cottages that belong to the Welbeck Estate. Two are dog-friendly and all sleep four to eight people. The pick of the bunch is La Roche, which has a garden hot tub. Guests can also pre-order a breakfast hamper (£30) from the estate’s farm shop. From £520 for a three-night break for up to six people in La Roche.
Welbeck Estate, located within Sherwood Forest, is the seat of the Dukes of Portland.
Photograph by Alex Wilkinson Media
Where to eat in Sherwood Forest
All Welbeck Estate walks start and end in The Courtyard at Welbeck, where the Harley Café serves sandwiches, small plates and a hearty signature venison cobbler with horseradish and parmesan scones. The Hardwick Inn, a half-hour drive west, is a charming countryside pub in a restored 16th-century building, perfect for a Sunday roast.
What to do in Nottingham
On a whistle-stop tour of Nottingham, visit Nottingham Castle to explore 1,000 years of history. Fronted by a Robin Hood statue, it hosts an exhibit about the outlaw’s antics. Afterwards, head to Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, lauded as England’s oldest surviving inn and once a stop for crusader knights. Pub classics are served in its dimly lit, medieval-style rooms.
What we like nearby
Newstead Abbey is a former Augustinian priory-turned-private-residence, a 40-minute drive south of Sherwood Forest and the ancestral home of Lord Byron. Inside, the private apartments of the poet can be visited. In good weather, meander through some of the estate’s 300 acres, incorporating formal gardens, ponds and waterfalls.
Published in the May 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).