© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Licence number PU 100034184.

 

We're away for a few days to catch up with family in person rather than on the phone.

Paula invited us down to Tickhill near Doncaster and our time there included a local walk in Sherwood Forest.

Before we travelled back on Sunday we drove the short distance to Sheffield to meet our other 'northern' daughter

and to check out the new house she is in the process of buying.

Saturday found us in Sherwood Forest . . . Edwinstowe Village to be precise.

The spire belongs to the church where Robin Hood was believed to have married Maid Marian.

The village sports field, the local Craft Centre and cafe share a car park which is a good alternative to the busy Sherwood Forest Centre a short distance up the road.  Both are a reasonable £3 for the day. By using this one we have the opportunity for a slightly longer, but still convenient round walk to the Major Oak and the Forest Centre.

Plenty going on including this small pony trekking party who were just returning from a Sherwood Forest outing.

Paula and Abi had been here before so they knew the way round without needing trail markers.

The forest is full of paths . . . evidence of the popularity of the place with visitors.

It is late winter and the famous Sherwood Forest oak trees are still without leaves.

" Happy families "

Being an SSSI (Site of special scientific interest) there is considerable management of the area

designed to maintain and enhance the woodland and the many sections of old heathland that lie within it.

[ Click here or on the picture above if you want a larger version, in order to read the words more easily . . . just backspace to return]

Difficult to conceive of Robin Hood hiding in these woodlands with this sort of winter cover.

Downhill towards the centre of this part of the forest . . . chance for a run if you want.

Hold your cursor over the picture to see who runs faster.

All the paths, or at least many of them, lead to the Major Oak, regarded as the centre of the forest.

It was well known even in the late 18th Century but is now so old it needs a few discreet supports to help take the weight of its heavy boughs.

 

The Forest is famous for its connection to the legendary Robin Hood and so the Park Information Centre is named after him.

Chance to visit the exhibitions and for toilets and refreshments.

Inside the exhibition there's a great display . . .	. . . all about the the characters within the legend.

It also tries to explain who Robin Hood was, why he was an outlaw

and how he supposedly fought to protect the poorer villagers of the area against the tyrannies of the landed gentry.

From the centre it was just a short walk back to Edwinstowe car park at the end of our circular walk.

Good boy Harry . . . he may not have run around as much as Dylan but he had a great walk around the woodland.

- - - o o o - - -

In the evenings we were fed, watered and royally entertained by Paula, Tom and Abi.

[ Who said "smile" at the camera ?]

- - - o o o - - -

Hi Roger and Ann Loved your latest trip down our way. When we were children you could actually go into the Major Oak, part of being a Nottinghamshire child.  We ‘discovered’ the Robin Hood Festival about five years ago and all of us, grandparents (that is us), parents(daughter & son in law) and three children all enjoy it very much indeed. It is not on for three days as you say but for a week. Usually the first week in August, I’ve just looked the dates up . . . Monday 31st July to Sunday 6th August The long distance path the Robin Hood Way goes through this part of the forest as well. Starts at Nottingham Castle and after a lot of wandering around finishes at Edwinstowe Church. We did the Way, in bits, 2007/2008. Reading about your walk in Sherwood Forest has brought back many happy memories on a miserable rainy day here in East Bridgford Kindest regards to you both, Hilary & David. Thanks for your email Hilary & David,  I've amended the text accordingly . . . RmH

- - - o o o - - -