Sherwood Forest Local Tourist
Attractions

Located just over 4 miles from our holiday park, the iconic Major Oak is a huge oak tree thought to be around eight hundred years old. According to local lore, its hollow trunk was used as a hideout by Robin Hood’s men, though as legend suggests, if Robin was active in the twelfth or thirteenth century, this tree could only have been a sapling then. Ignoring that, the tree is one of the most famous residents of Sherwood Forest, surviving fire, raging winds, heavy snowstorms and hundreds of years of deforestation. It has watched as millions of people from all over the world have gathered around it to stare up at its branches.

Based just a short walk from our holiday park, this attraction is home to Nottinghamshire’s only narrow gauge steam railway, nestled in a valley in between Mansfield and the historic village of Edwinstowe. The railway is a fifth scale, fifteen inch gauge line running through cuttings, tunnels and over two level crossings. The mile long ride through traditional farmland is a must whilst on your stay with us. Rediscover the charm of shining brass, the smell of steam and hear the whistle blow as you ride behind in one of the comfortable coaches. The railway site also has an adventure play park and a picnic area, also serving food and drinks.

Just under a three mile journey from our holiday park, this park is over three thousand acres in size and is the largest single tract of forest open to the public in the East Midlands. The forestry is a great place for activities, and the biking facilities provide something for everyone, including families and experienced bikers. With activity trails, play areas, bike hire, wild running and mountain biking trails, Sherwood Pines will set the scene for a great day out for all. If a more leisurely jaunt is more your thing, there is also a cafe where you can relax with a coffee and try one of the legendary sausage rolls, made with locally sourced ingredients.

A little further afield, but still only just under nine miles away from our park, this farm and animal park has been entertaining millions of children and adults for over thirty years. The farm gives children of all ages the chance to get up close to a wide variety of friendly animals. There is always so much to do at the farm, rain or shine. From holding chicks, to stroking reptiles, to feeding some of our cheeky llamas, there’s something for everyone. As well as meeting the animals, you can zoom around on go karts, explore the indoor and outdoor play areas, grab a bite to eat, catch a seasonal show, or even pick up a new pet.

Located just over eight miles away from our holiday park, Creswell Crags is a spectacular magnesian limestone gorge that straddles the border between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. It is dotted with a large number of caves, fissures and rock shelters, many of which harboured secrets from our prehistoric past. Archaeologists have been excavating these caves since the nineteenth century, when the Victorians first discovered the artefacts that lay beneath the cave floors. For lovers of nature, the attraction is home to a wide variety of rare species and plants. Repeat visits are essential to appreciate the richness of the environment.

At under a five mile drive from our holiday park, the abbey at Rufford is set in beautiful parkland with nearly nine hundred years of history. From its origins as a twelfth century cistercian monastery to its period as a Jacobean era family home, there is plenty to explore with walks through the native woodlands, a lake and gardens plus a range of attractions, activities and places to relax and eat. Family fun and activities are at the heart of the park, with mazes and sculptures, adventure golf and play areas, which are just as fun for grown ups as they are for the kids. Combine an active day out with the kids, with history and a bite to eat.

At just under twelve miles from our holiday park, this fairy tale Stuart mansion was designed to entertain and impress. Its reputation for revelry lives on as they now entertain you and your family. Wander the lavish rooms of the Little Castle, explore the romantic ruined terrace range, and delight in the views from the wall walk, offering spectacular views over Derbyshire. Start your visit in the exhibition in the Riding House then run wild in extensive grounds, including the fun play area. Rest your feet after exploring the castle in the fantastic cafe and treat yourself to a yummy sandwich, refreshing hot drink or tempting homemade cake.

Clumber Park is just over a nine mile drive from our holiday park. Popular in the local area, the park spans nearly four thousand acres, with peaceful woods and forest, open heath and rolling farmland. It has serpentine lake at its centre and the longest avenue of lime trees in Europe. There are also hundreds of other beautiful trees, including some very large Lebanese Cedar trees and a coniferous forest. The park is also home to a large and varied collection of rhododendrons which bloom in the spring and early summer. The lake and vast woodlands always teem with wildlife, and there is a long flat path all the way around, a very long walk.

Mansfield is the largest retail destination in Nottinghamshire after Nottingham, and offers the traditional, friendly and welcoming feel synonymous with any historic market town. Attracting over a hundred thousand shoppers each week, the town centre offers a vibrant mix of big brand and independent shopping choices within shopping centres and retail parks, all across an appealing network of quaint shopping streets surrounding the traditional market square. Parking is readily available in the town centre, and with over eighty different places to eat and drink, there’s always an inviting menu available.

If thrills and spills are more your kind of family activity, the theme park at Gulliver’s Valley is just thirty minute drive away and under twenty miles. The park has been providing magic to children for over forty years, from the fantastic fun of their theme park and attractions, to great priced gifts and presents. Discover a truly fantastic selection of rides, including the new dinosaur discovery experience, where you will be taken on a Jurassic adventure in the lost world of living dinosaurs. With over twenty rides themed in different lands, play areas and loads of fun activities, there is plenty to keep children of all ages entertained.

This is a tourist attraction in Matlock Bath, further afield from our park at nearly thirty miles and an hour’s drive, but it is well worth a visit. Begin your adventure in one of the famous cable cars, soaring up over the Derwent Valley to the summit of Masson Hill. A flight in the cars is just the beginning of your day out, but it is a highlight for many. Take your journey up to the summit in style and enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of the Derbyshire Dales around you. At the summit you’ll find a tower, visitors centre with a restaurant and bar, a fossil factory, caverns, an explorers challenge play area and adventure playground.

A ten mile drive away from our holiday park, this observatory is situated in Sutton in Ashfield overlooking the town of Mansfield to the north. The observatory building comprises of a workshop and a lecture room, as well as the observatory dome itself which houses a hand built Newtonian reflecting telescope. The observatory is the focal point of outreach efforts, hosting open evenings throughout the winter for the general public as well as night-sky classes and other events. Something a little different, if you’re interested in astronomy, arranging a visit before your stay could be an experience to remember for the whole family.

Not too far away from our park and based just down the road, Go Ape packs a punch with four brilliant outdoor adventures to get stuck into. Be prepared for some serious speed on the challenge course, where the tandem zip wire speedometer can hit twenty miles per hour. Kids are spoilt for choice with a treetop adventure course, and one of the only two nets adventures in the country. Decisions, decisions, bounce in the clouds or climb up to the clouds? If you love to go off-road, hop on to one of the segways and explore the varied terrain and beautiful woodlands. It is a fantastic day out and the perfect place for thrill seekers.

Based less than ten miles and a fifteen minute drive away, this family theme and water park is spread over thirty acres with two large indoor play centres, a farm and a water park, which are all included with standard admission price. Explore the nine different areas which include an animal adventure zone, a falconry centre and the largest outdoor children’s water park in the country. There are hours of fun to be had by the youngsters, with a huge choice of places to eat and drink too including a cafe, pizza shop, ice cream shack and burger bar. If you forget the swimwear, there is a splash shop on site too for shorts and costumes.

Based a twenty minute drive away from our holiday park, this pumping station is one of the finest Victorian waterworks in the country. This beautiful facility was designed in the early 1880s to pump millions of gallons of clean fresh water every day to the rapidly increasing population of industrial Nottingham. Today, thanks to the enthusiasm of volunteers, you can still experience spectacularly preserved steam engines, learn the art of stoking and take a tour of the underground reservoir. The engines are only stoked on event days, so please check their event calendar before travelling to avoid disappointment.