Holiday rentals in Sherwood Forest

Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire is best known as the home of the legendary outlaw Robin Hood. Kings of England used the forest as a hunting ground; today it’s a mixture of public parkland, private estates, historic houses, and log cabins, not to mention Europe’s largest collection of ancient oaks. Walking paths and cycling routes crisscross the forest, starting with the National Nature Reserve, a bird watcher’s paradise with hundreds of species including treecreepers and woodpeckers as well as the elusive nightjar. Mountain biking trails through Sherwood Pines cater to beginners and experts alike, while the northern area offers a step back in time to the days when this part of the Midlands was home to grand aristocratic families.

Sherwood Forest enjoys the kind of moderate weather the UK is known for: summers that are warm but not hot, and winters that are cold but not extreme. Average lows from December to February drop to 34 degrees Fahrenheit; average highs in July, the hottest month, reach around 72 degrees. Summer is a great time to visit, but expect more crowds. Spring and fall are both beautiful in the forest, when the trees show off their most eye-catching colors, alongside a whole host of seasonal wildflowers. As ever, you can expect rain at any time of year, so pack layers, waterproofs, and an umbrella.

The Major Oak

Folklore has it that back in the 12th century, Robin Hood and his Merry Men hid out in the hollow trunk of this mighty specimen. History can’t quite prove that, but science can confirm that this is the UK’s largest living oak tree, with a canopy reaching more than 90 feet, and it has been growing for more than 800 years. It’s a 15-minute walk from the visitor center at Sherwood Forest Country Park, and worth every step.

The Dukeries

By the 19th century, four large ducal estates made up the area to the south of Worksop. While not all of the grand houses have survived, their legacy lives on in their beautiful grounds, including Clumber Park, with its stunning serpentine lake, and the 1,000-acre Thoresby Park. Welbeck Abbey was a monastery until Henry VIII’s time, and has since been the seat of the dukes of Portland; today it exhibits contemporary art in its Harley Gallery as well as the historic paintings and artifacts of the Portland Collection.

Newstead Abbey

Founded in the 12th century as an Augustinian priory, Newstead Abbey, located between Mansfield and Nottingham, is the ancestral home of one of Britain’s most famous, and rakish, poets, who was the last in his family line to inherit the property — and sold it when he was desperate for cash. Its buildings and ornate gardens remain open to the public, and are allegedly haunted.