Heart of Sherwood Forest walks
Selected walks in the heart of Sherwood Forest
Click on the green heading for the walks in each place
Eakring
Eakring – Five circular walks 1.2 to 3 miles (1.9km to 4.5km) – mostly leisurely walking but on clay so can be very slippery after heavy rain or in the winter.
Edwinstowe
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
Kings Clipstone
Kings Clipstone Robin Hood walk 1 Leisurely – 7 miles (11.2km)
Kings Clipstone Robin Hood walk 2 Moderate – 8 miles (12.8km)
Kings Clipstone Robin Hood walk 3 Moderate – 9.5 miles(15.1) or combine with RH2 – 7miles (11.2km) – the only walk guide going past the Parliament Oak, Sherwood Forest’s oldest tree.
Kings Clipstone walk 1 Parliament Oak Leisurely 3.2 miles (5.2km) A walk from the Parliament Oak on Peasfield Lane (A6075) along the ridge through the woods to the Maun Valley Trail (line of the Flood Dyke irrigation channel) and back along Newbuildings Drive. New highly recommended
Kings Clipstone walk 2 Leisurely – 5.5 miles (8.8km) A walk through Kings Clipstone to the River Maun, and the fishing lakes, remains of the Flood Dyke irrigation system, the Spa Ponds and back along the straight mile of Clipstone Drive.
Kings Clipstone walk 3 Leisurely – 7 miles (11.2km) Starting at Vicar Water Country Park across to the Maun Valley, then to Kings Clipstone returning along the Vicar Water Valley. Recommended
Kings Clipstone walk 4 Leisurely – 6 miles (8.4km) A fairly flat walk starting from Vicar Water Country Park across to Clipstone Drive, then along Squires Lane to Kings Clipstone before returning up Bog Lane. Avoids the hills in walk 3
Kings Clipstone walk 5 Leisurely – 5 miles (8km) Starts at Archway Road, to Edwinstowe past Archway House and some of the old oaks of Birklands and returning to the village down Broad Ride and Archway Road. Recommended
Kings Clipstone walk 6 Leisurely – 7 miles (11.2km) Starts at Vicar Water Country Park. Then follows by an attractive route through Sherwood Pines. The route uses the wide verge on the B6030 to get to Kings Clipstone and finally returns up the Vicar Water valley. Recommended
Ollerton
Ollerton walk 1 Leisurely – 5.2 miles (8.3km) Stroll from Old Ollerton to Edwinstowe High Street and the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre.
Ollerton walk 2 Leisurely – 4.5 miles (7.2km) Start this highly rated walk in the attractive centre of Old Ollerton. It takes in Wellow with its famous maypole and Rufford Country Park with its abbey ruins. A very varied walk with some great views. Warning – flight of 141 steps down and up at old railway cutting. Add extra for walking round Old Ollerton, Wellow (see the village map) and Rufford Country Park. Recommended
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
Pleasley
Pleasley Vale walks has to be experienced to appreciate just how different the Vale is to the rest of Sherwood Forest. Leisurely to Moderate walking (some fairly stiff but short gradients). Recommended
Route 1 – 2.4 miles (3.8 km) Route 2 – 2.1 miles (3.3 km)
Route 3 – 3.0miles (4.8 km) Route 4 – 3.0miles (4.8 km)
Pleasley Park Wood map
Rufford
Rufford walk 1 Moderate – 8.2 miles (13.1 Km) Sherwood Heath, Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, Rufford Country Park and Old Ollerton.
Five Parks walk Moderate – 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.
Ollerton walk 2 Leisurely – 4.5 miles (7.2km) Start this highly rated walk in the attractive centre of Old Ollerton. It takes in Wellow with its famous maypole and Rufford Country Park with its abbey ruins. A very varied walk with some great views. Warning – flight of 141 steps down and up at old railway cutting. Add extra for walking round Old Ollerton, Wellow (see the village map) and Rufford Country Park. Recommended
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 Pines
Sherwood Pines walk 1 Leisurely walk – 3.3 miles (5.3km) Varied walk through the historic parts of the forest such as the Long Stoop (hill to climb). Try and find Robin Hood’s Whetstone (whetstones are used for sharpening blades). Recommended
Sherwood Pines walk 2 Leisurely – 4 miles (6.4km) Takes you to some of the very quiet parts of the Forest. Some ups and downs – one going, two back. Recommended
Kings Clipstone walk 6 Leisurely – 7 miles (11.2km) Starts at Vicar Water Country Park. Then follows by an attractive route through Sherwood Pines. The route uses the wide verge on the B6030 to get to Kings Clipstone and finally returns up the Vicar Water valley. Recommended
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 by long
Sookholme
Sookholme walk 1 Leisurely – 4.6 miles (7.4km) It is hard to believe that much of this woodland and farming route is reclaimed pit tip. Sookholme is a quaint little hamlet.
Sookholme walk 2 Leisurely – 3.7 miles (5.9km) + 1.3 miles(2.1km) extension This is lovely quiet walk round the ponds and woods of Shirebrook Wood with an extension to Pleasley Vale. Recommended rail crossing has good visibility but be CAREFUL.
Sookholme walk 3 Leisurely – 5.0 miles (8.0km) Explore more of the extensive path system around Pleasley Park Wood, Little Matlock, Shirebrook Wood. Recommended rail crossing has good visibility but be CAREFUL.
Vicar Water Country Park
Kings Clipstone walk 3 Leisurely – 7 miles (11.2km) Starting at Vicar Water Country Park across to the Maun Valley, then to Kings Clipstone returning along the Vicar Water Valley. Recommended
Kings Clipstone walk 4 Leisurely – 6 miles (8.4km) A fairly flat walk starting from Vicar Water Country Park across to Clipstone Drive, then along Squires Lane to Kings Clipstone before returning up Bog Lane. Recommended
Kings Clipstone walk 6 Leisurely – 7 miles (11.2km) Starts at Vicar Water Country Park. Then follows by an attractive route through Sherwood Pines. The route uses the wide verge on the B6030 to get to Kings Clipstone and finally returns up the Vicar Water valley. Recommended
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
Warsop
The following Warsop routes have been provided by the Warsop Footpath Group.
Warsop walk 1 Leisurely 7.5 miles (12 km) The eastern side of Warsop Parish has ancient lanes, fine views and a variety of coniferous and deciduous woodland. Birds are plentiful in the hedgerows, wildflowers are abundant along Budby Drive and in autumn fungi thrive beneath the beech trees and at the sides of the cycle route.
Warsop walk 2 Leisurely – 3.8 miles (6km) includes open fields, woodland, a farm road and an old lane. You may wish to spend time investigating Cuckney’s mill pond or stop for a drink at the Greendale Oak.
Warsop walk 3 Leisurely – 3.8 miles (6km) Now the pit has gone, nature is reclaiming the pit yard, the tip has been sensitively remodelled and new habitats created. This walk includes both of Warsop’s Sites of
Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), the Hills & Holes and Lord Stubbins Wood. The return through Collier Spring Wood provides a fascinating contrast.
Warsop walk 4 Leisurely – 3.8 miles (6km) This walk takes us around the south of the parish along all three types of right of way – byway, a bridleway and a footpath. You should enjoy fine views and see a variety of birds in the hedgerows flanking the lanes.
Warsop walk 5 Leisurely – 1.9 miles (3km) This walk links Market Warsop and Church Warsop and includes The Carrs Local Nature Reserve, Church Warsop’s Doorstep Green, part of the Hills & Holes Site of Special Scientific Interest and a stretch alongside the River Meden.
Warsop walk 6 Leisurely – 2.5 miles (4km) The reclaimed Warsop Main pit site at Warsop Vale form the main focus for this walk. It also takes in farmland and Sookholme Moor to the south of the village. Recommended
Warsop walk 7 Leisurely – 6 miles (9.5km) Fine views are a feature of the first part of
this walk and the return section is mainly along quiet lanes. Recommended
Warsop walk 8 Leisurely – 6 miles (10km) Along the Warsop parish boundary through the edge of the ancient forest of Birklands. Birklands was part of the royal forest of Sherwood that was an exclusive hunting ground for successive Kings and Queens of England.
Warsop walk 9 Moderate – 8 miles (13km) The route includes old lanes, woodland and the sites of the two country mansions. Unfortunately it is impossible to avoid sections of road walking but interesting features along the route compensate for this.
Warsop walk 10 Leisurely – 3miles (5km) circuit around Church Warsop, taking in Collier Spring Wood and a path along the parish boundary that was only officially declared a public right of way in July 2009. It covers a variety of woodland and gives fine views from the higher ground of Cuckney Hill. Recommended
Warsop to Thynghowe walk Leisurely – 6 miles (10km) Along the Warsop parish boundary through the edge of the ancient forest of Birklands to the ancient meeting site of Thynghowe.
Wellow
Wellow walk 1 Easy walking – 1.7 miles (2.7km) Wellow Village walk Recommended
Wellow walk 2 Leisurely – 2.0miles (3.2km) except for the 142 steps at the old railway cutting. A short varied walk, with a small diversion to see Wellow’s famous Maypole Green
Ollerton walk 2 Leisurely – 4.5 miles (7.2km) Start this highly rated walk in the attractive centre of Old Ollerton. It takes in Wellow with its famous maypole and Rufford Country Park with its abbey ruins. A very varied walk with some great views. Warning – flight of 141 steps down and up at old railway cutting. Add extra for walking round Old Ollerton, Wellow (see the village map) and Rufford Country Park. Recommended
Sherwood Forest Information 