Sherwood Forest Country Park and Edwinstowe
Edwinstowe means Edwin’s resting place. In 633 Edwin, King of Northumbrian, the first Christian Anglo-Saxon king killed in battle, died at nearby Hatfield. His body was carried into the Forest and hidden, it is thought near St Edwins Chapel 2 miles west of the village.
In the Victorian period the coming of the railway brought a tourism boom to Edwinstowe as visitors could get off the train and wander up to the collection of ancient oaks around the Major Oak. It is still Sherwood’s biggest draw with the Sherwood Forest Country Park on its doorstep.
The village has a thriving High Street. The Sherwood Forest Arts and Craft Center and Sherwood Forest Youth Hostel are to be found next to the cricket pitch on Forest Corner (off Church Lane/Swincote Lane).
At the highest point of the Country Park on Hanger Hill is the important archaeological site of Thynghowe. An important meeting place for well over a thousand years, it is located on the boundary between three parishes and may once have been an important location on the border of the kingdoms of Northumbria and Mercia.
Walks
Edwinstowe walk 1 Leisurely – 4.5 miles (7.4 Km) Takes you through centre of Edwinstowe, along the River Maun, past Archway House, along the green ride (SSSI) and past a group of ancient oaks, well worth visiting. Some gentle gradients but mostly fairly flat. Recommended
Edwinstowe walk 2 Moderate – 8 miles (13Km) A longer walk round some of the historic sites at the heart of Sherwood Forest, including parts not normally seen by visitors.
Edwinstowe walk 3 Moderate – 4.7 miles (7.5km) This walk gives you a good idea of what Sherwood used to be like. Takes you through the wood grazing project and across Budby Forest South to the Thoresby Estate village of Budby with its historic post box. Recommended
Edwinstowe to Thynghowe walk Leisurely – 7.5 miles (12km) From Edwinstowe to its boundaries with Kings Clipstone, Warsop and Budby. The section along the Thynghowe Trail marks some of the events of over a thousand years of history. This area was once border territory between the kingdoms of Northumbria and Mercia with the hill of Thynghowe, possibly playing an important role in this era. Warsop Footpath Group
Five Parks walk Challenging length – 14 miles (22.5km). Mostly on good tracks or grass. A lot to see if you do your research first. Good spacing of tea rooms/pubs along the way. Recommended but long
Sherwood Forest Information 