28 July 2021
Famous for its acres of forest, Nottinghamshire is one of the best places in the UK for families looking to explore, living just a stone’s throw away from some of the best sites in the UK is a major advantage for anyone interested in countryside living that also offers more.
In this blog post we have put together five of the best places that Nottinghamshire offers on its doorstep, perfect for short breaks and stimulating play and learning for families.
- Go Ape Sherwood Pines.
Hidden deep in Robin Hood country, Go Ape Sherwood Pines is a high ropes experience for the whole tribe. So, stash your bow and arrows for the day and take to the trees for a choice of five family thrills – including Nets Adventure!
Younger kids can experience all the fun of wobbly bridges, intricate crossings and great zip wire rides on the Treetop Adventure course, designed for anyone over 1m tall. Fancy even more monkey business? The Treetop Adventure + course introduces slightly older children to a more challenging course, with 11 additional crossings, a climbing wall and a thrilling 100m zip finale.
The final star of the Sherwood Pines show is Nets Adventure, a super-springy woodland playground with jumbo-netting amongst the treetops. Feel like you’re bouncing in the clouds completely harness free – and the best bit is that it’s for anyone aged just one or over! Also for anyone who doesn’t fancy leaving solid ground, take a turn on two wheels with a Forest Segway Adventure.
- White Post Farm Centre
From cute chicks to sheep racing there’s lots for animal lovers to enjoy at the White Post Farm Centre. Entertaining families for twenty years, this year-round attraction offers a slice of farm life whatever the weather. Come prepared to meet, and fall in love with, a variety of farm animals from chickens, pigs, wallabies, cattle, cows, llamas, ponies and donkeys.
After being outside for a while you may welcome the warmth in the Silver Barn and Incubator room where you can visit bouncy rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, goats and new-born piglets and lambs.
In the Show Barn you might be lucky to catch a bit of animal panto before scrambling over to the soft play area where you can whiz down the UK’s largest sledge run.
- Amen Corner Karting
The 300m junior track was opened in 1990 and was laid out to provide an easy fun course for novice drivers. It is all tarmac, originally 7.0m wide, with only two big bends and a few slight curves.
A continuous line of commercial lorry tyres are laid all around, both inside and outside to catch those trying to leave the circuit. This track is floodlit so that they can still operate at night.
This family friendly track provides countless hours of entertainment for everyone. Located in the heart of the county, be prepared to come home exhausted after this thrilling activity.
- Robin Hoods Major Oak Treasure Trail
The Robin Hood’s Major Oak self guided themed Treasure Trail is a walking treasure hunt through the town of Edwinstowe and the heart of Sherwood Forest.
As you and the kids follow the 2.5 mile Trail route, keep your eyes peeled to search out the answers to the clues which can be found on statues, buildings or structures within the area, all whilst learning about the legend and the history of Robin Hood.
Each time you find the answer to a question, you will be eliminating a possible location on the treasure map of the long lost treasure; at the end of the Trail, you’ll have the location!
Great for anyone aged 6 to 106, This Trail is self guided, so families can do it in their own time whenever they like, but most find it takes around 2.5 hours to complete.
- Sherwood Forest Railway
This Railway is home to the only Narrow Gauge Steam Railway in Nottinghamshire, and it’s in miniature! A real steam railway, reduced to 5 eighths scale, with 5 locomotives, and 7 coaches, plus signals, level crossings, and a tunnel, all perfectly recreated in a smaller size, which the kids will absolutely love!
The fantastic little railway is a family concern that runs with the help of hardworking volunteers and enthusiasts, and is constantly being updated and improved, so keep an eye out for changes if you visit more than once!
Visitors of all ages will enjoy the journey, with plenty of trackside ornaments to look out for along the way, plus the chance to stop for a few minutes at the scenic end of the track. Here, you will also get the chance to see the engine up close, and find out what all the interesting levers and valves do before you complete the return journey.
A great way to rediscover the charm of shining brass and the smell of steam, with a collection of small, but perfectly formed steam locomotives, and hear the whistle blow when you ride in the wonderful, historical coaching stock. To make the day even more memorable they also offer free of charge an adventure play area, under 5’s play area, and a picnic area.