Outdoor Activities

No matter what the weather, Nottinghamshire offers visitors and residents alike the opportunity to explore outdoors and take in some of the fantastic outdoor landscapes and attractions we have to offer. Experience cycling trails through Sherwood Forest as the leaves turn in autumn, or in spring, take the family and your picnic blanket to Clumber Park. You can also enjoy self-guided and guided tours and trails throughout our beautiful County if you want to explore the area on foot. More inspiration on events across Nottinghamshire can be found on our What's On page.

Admire the Scenery...

Being such a green county, we always have a country park or nature reserve within easy reach. From the beautiful lakes and landscape of Clumber Park, voted the most romantic place for a date in the East Midlands by the Great Date Guide, to Wollaton Hall & Deer Park and Rushcliffe Country Park Cycle Route which neighbours brilliant attractions such as the Framework Knitters Museum, where you can stretch your legs as a couple or with the family. Enjoy the great outdoors at the Conkers which boasts a unique mix of indoor and outdoor experiences to keep you and your family engaged for hours.

Enjoy a visit to Thoresby Park and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, visit the Gallery, see an outdoor event, or even catch a segway tour.

For more suggestions, click here to visit our dedicated Country Parks and Gardens page.

Nottinghamshire is packed with amazing historical homes, ancient castles, and grand country estates. In the north of Nottinghamshire, the area known as The Dukeries feature the grand estates of Rufford, Welbeck, Kelham and Clumber, and are popular with visitors today.

To learn more about historical homes and castles in Nottinghamshire, click here.

Join adventure sports and uncover treasures...

In the heart of Sherwood Forest, swing between the trees and fly down zip slides at Go Ape at Sherwood Pines. If you don’t have a head for heights then hire a Segway and go on a gentle ride around our picturesque forest – beautiful in all seasons.

At the Woodland Adventure Zone you can enjoy the zipline, climbing, abseiling, bushcraft, walks and so much more! This amazing venue also caters for people of all ages and abilities, with access for wheelchair users and people with disabilities. Set amongst acres of pine trees in Sherwood Forest, it is a truly unique setting for your outdoor adventure. 

To find more outdoor adventures, click here to visit our Adventure Sports page.

More Sports...

Over at Rufford Abbey, you can spend a whole day enjoying trying different sports. Pick up a bow and arrow at Rufford Abbey Activty Centre for a fun experience, which is all about giving people the chance to try archery in a safe environment. Try and hit the bullseye before moving onto the boating lake, adventure golf, walks, the play area and more! With excellent equipment and facilitated by skilled coaches, you are sure to have a wonderful time. They also offer tours, a cafe and tea room, ice-cream parlor and a pizza van to keep you fuelled up and entertained for the whole day!

Or why not try the brand-new Disc Golf at the nearby Sherwood Pines - a unique take on traditional golf where players throw frisbee style discs at fixed targets!

For more archery opportunities, click here. We also have dedicated pages for horse riding, golfing, fishing, walking and cycling.

Go For A Walk...

Just outside of Nottingham city centre, at Highielfds Park you can rent a boat to take onto the boating lake, get a round of adventure golf, try your hand at croquet, explore the play area and catch a perfromance or a refreshment at Lakeside Arts and cafe.

If you prefer to keep your feet on terra firma, walking through Sherwood Forest itself is a great way to burn off the calories and perfect for the whole family. Stroll along miles of walking trails and stop off and take a photograph at the award winning Major Oak, named Tree of the Year by the Woodland Trust in 2014.

A short journey from the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre is the historic village of Edwinstowe, which has plenty of restaurants and shops to make your day complete. 

For true explorers a visit to Creswell Crags in the north of the county is a must. In this area you will find ancient rock formations and Britain’s only known example of Ice Age cave art, along with an array of spectacular pre-historic archaeological finds. You will love the walk around the lake while taking in the history of the site.

For more walking recommendations, click here.

Tours and Trails...

With a unique history waiting to be uncovered and beautiful sights to explore, you will love some of the tours and trails available in Nottinghamshire.

On the Robin Hood Town Tour, you will follow a trail of historical facts to discover how simple ballads over 700 years old grew into one of the greatest stories ever told. This fun, theatrical exploration of the legend is told against the back drop of the city. As you visit places associated with Robin Hood, you will also see the town's key sites of interest and learn about its past, present and future. Robin will also point out the best places to eat, drink and make merry so you can make the most of your stay.

If you prefer self-led tours, you might enjoy the Curious About self-guided ours of Nottingham, Newark or Southwell. These quirky, treasure hunt style heritage walks will keep everyone intrigued and amused with detailed directions, maps, clues, pictures, interesting historical snippets and stories about the people that have shaped it. You can buy in booklet or instant download format (to print at home or to use immediately on your mobile device).

For more tours and trails, click here.

Try Your Hand at Water Sports...

Make a splash at Holme Pierrepont Country Park, home of the National Water Sports Centre, for some extreme water sports. Try your hand at white water rafting, either with friends of family, and take on the man-made course powered by a natural river, meaning you experience white water the way it’s meant to be.

For something requiring more of a solo effort, you can hire a canoe and feel the burn as you take on the challenging course. You can also enjoy the Holme Pierrepont Country Park Cycle Route around the 270 acre country park. Adjacent to Holme Pierrpont is Colwick Country Park which is another option for extending your outing. 

To learn more about watersports and swimming, click here.

Outdoor Events...

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire have some wonderful seasonal outdoor events. A range of famous venues participate in Outdoor Theatre & Film events such as Newstead Abbey and Southwell Minster. Our County is also host to some amazing outdoor festivals such as Spledour Festival, Gloworm Festival and Nottingham Green Festival to name just a few. You can find more festivals by clicking here.

Check our website regualrly for updates on seasonal pages including February Half Term, Easter and Summer in Nottingham (which we update each year), or visit our What's On calendar for the latest outdoor events happening all year round.