Nottinghamshire walks

The Best Walks in Nottinghamshire

Whether you are exploring the famous Sherwood Forest or wandering through charming historical villages, Nottinghamshire offers plenty of unique and wonderful routes to explore. From easy parkland strolls to rolling rural circuits, exploring these Nottinghamshire walks is one of the best ways to experience the region’s rich heritage and varied scenery.

Best Easy & Dog-Friendly Walks in Nottinghamshire

Newstead Abbey from Linby

Distance: 8.78 km | Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes

Terrain: railway trail cutting, estate roads, woodland tracks, field paths, quiet village lanes, river footbridges

Starting and finishing at the historic Top Cross in the conservation village of Linby, this charming circular route explores the peaceful countryside and the grounds of a famous monastic estate. Ideal for anyone looking for gentle Nottinghamshire walking, the path sets off along the Linby Trail, following the leafy cutting of the former Great Northern Railway line alongside nature conservation areas and views of the Robin Hood line.

Joining the quiet estate roads of Newstead Abbey, the trail descends past upper lakes and waterfalls to reveal the dramatic ruins of the 12th-century Augustinian Priory, best known as the ancestral home of Lord Byron. On this scenic leg of the circuit, the return loop winds through Abbey Woods, passes the estate grounds of Papplewick Hall, and follows peaceful field paths across the River Leen back into Linby.

Starting from Kneesall & including Laxton

Distance: 11.07 km | Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes

Terrain: pasture fields, crop footpaths, woodland tracks, quiet village roads, stiles, grassy bridleways

Starting and finishing at the School Lane car park near St Bartholomew's Church in Kneesall, this varied 11 km circular route showcases the rolling, undulating landscapes of rural Nottinghamshire. The route sets off along Baulk Lane before heading north toward the edge of Laxton Common, where a short woodland track leads to the Golden Hill trig point for sweeping panoramic views across the countryside.

Continuing northeast toward Kirton Wood, the trail turns southeast across open fields toward Laxton, passing close to the historic National Holocaust Centre and Museum. A standout highlight of this Nottinghamshire walk is entering Laxton, the last remaining village in the UK to farm using the medieval open-field strip system, where walkers can explore ancient motte and bailey earthworks and stop for lunch at the village pub. The return route follows quiet country lanes, wooded tracks through Mill Field, and clear field paths directly back to Kneesall.

Southwell - The Minster, Bramley Apple, Workhouse, Byron and Charles 1st

Distance: 9.57 km | Duration: 2 hours 55 minutes

Terrain: riverside footpaths, orchard tracks, quiet town streets, parkland paths, dingle trails, estate grounds

Starting and finishing at the Southwell Trail car park next to the historic Final Whistle pub, this engaging circular trail explores the rich heritage and picturesque landscapes of a historic Minster town. The route begins alongside the old railway trail and Caudwell's Greet Lily Mill, following the meandering banks of the River Greet to the quiet hamlet of Maythorne.

Crossing through Norwood Park, the path leads through Bramley Apple orchards, the world-famous home of the original 1809 seedling, and continues along a wooded dingle track beside the Potwell Dyke. Continuing along this historic route, the trail ascends for elevated town views before descending directly into the grounds of the magnificent Southwell Minster and Archbishop's Palace. The return leg passes through a community orchard near the National Trust's Workhouse property before tracking the River Greet back to the start.

Moderate Nottinghamshire Circular Walks

Gunthorpe & Caythorpe from Hoveringham

Distance: 10.78 km | Duration: 3 hours 05 minutes

Terrain: riverbank paths, drainage dyke footpaths, bridleways, quiet village lanes, field tracks

Starting and finishing at the riverside parking area south of Hoveringham, this scenic 10-11 km circular route explores the peaceful floodplains of the River Trent and the surrounding countryside. The route sets off along a wide, grassy path upstream beside the Trent, leading directly to the impressive locks and riverside dining spots in Gunthorpe.

Turning inland from the river, the trail follows quiet lanes, field boundaries, and drainage dykes into the picturesque village of Caythorpe. Following this level waterside track, the path continues along a bridleway past historic Mill Farm and skirts restored gravel pit lakes, now thriving wetland havens for water birds, before winding through the charming village streets of Hoveringham back to the riverbank.

Eastwood, Pentrich and South Wingfield Revolution

Distance: 7.99 km | Duration: 2 hours 25 minutes

Terrain: footpaths, parkland tracks, field paths, suburban streets, pavements, gates

Starting and finishing outside the historic Sun Inn in Eastwood, this fascinating 8 km circular route retraces key sites and historical footprints associated with the 1817 Pentrich Revolution. The route leads north out of town along Mansfield Road, joining a quiet bridleway over the former site of Moorgreen Colliery before threading into the scenic waterside paths of Colliers Wood.

Continuing past Moorgreen Reservoir and High Park Wood, where local villagers once hid from the approaching rebel marchers, the path leads toward the historic Greasley Church. Moving forward along the trail, the route crosses five field paths with sweeping views over the Gilt Brook valley, winds through the historic district of Beggarlee, and passes childhood landmarks of author D.H. Lawrence before following Nottingham Road back to the Sun Inn.

Moorgreen Res & Felley Mills Track

Distance: 9.64 km | Duration: 3 hours 00 minutes

Terrain: woodland tracks, reservoir paths, field edge trails, motorway bridges, quiet country tracks

Starting and finishing at the Colliers Wood Car Park in Greasley, this scenic 9-10 km circular route takes in the serene waters of Moorgreen Reservoir and the rolling countryside around Felley Mill. The route sets off along well-trodden tracks, winding through the dense canopy of High Park Wood while keeping the calm waters of the reservoir to the left.

Passing the historic site of Felley Mill and its gentle stream, the path climbs steadily past America Farm, crossing the M1 motorway to reach elevated farm tracks. Pushing onward along 'Felley Tops,' walkers are rewarded with panoramic, long-distance views across the outer countryside and toward the church spire of Underwood, before looping back down through field edge paths to rejoin the reservoir trail.

Explore the Ancient Forests of Sherwood and Clumber Park

Walking through the ancient woodlands of Sherwood Forest and Clumber Park feels like stepping straight into the pages of a living history book. Though sitting just a short distance apart, they offer two distinct yet complementary experiences of England’s royal forest heritage: one wild and mythical, the other grand and romantic. For anyone who enjoys walking in Nottinghamshire, these iconic forests represent the crown jewels of the county's trail network.

Stepping into the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve is an atmospheric, deeply textured experience where the air carries the rich, earthy scent of damp moss, decaying wood, and ancient bark. The most striking feature of a Sherwood walk is the sheer scale of the veteran trees, with hundreds of ancient oaks between 500 and 1,000 years old whose immense, twisted trunks and sprawling limbs stretch out in dramatic, gothic shapes against the sky. Following the well-trodden Major Oak Trail leads you to the forest's most famous resident, an awe-inspiring giant whose massive, hollow, heavily braced trunk makes it easy to understand why local folklore ties it so closely to Robin Hood and his outlaws.

Beyond the famous tree, trails like the Greenwood Trail or the quieter Wildwood Trail immerse you in a dynamic ecosystem where you hear woodpeckers and cuckoos while walking past standing deadwood monoliths that feel wild, untamed, and steeped in mystery.

If Sherwood feels primordial and secretive, Clumber Park feels expansive, manicured yet wild, and laced with aristocratic history. Carved out of the very same ancient royal forest, Clumber spans thousands of acres of diverse habitats combining ancient woodlands with open heath, rolling parkland, and a massive serpentine lake.

A classic walk here pulls you along the edge of Clumber Lake, where crisp mornings reveal mist rolling off the flat, glassy water framed by weeping willows, and crossing the ornate Clumber Bridge offers sweeping views of the park's grand scale. Unlike the continuous canopy of Sherwood, a walk in Clumber Park transitions fluidly from shaded paths beneath towering beech trees to open purple-and-green heathland and secluded woodland glades. As you walk, you also encounter remnants of its grand ducal past, including hidden gothic-style estate buildings, quiet walled kitchen gardens, and a towering Gothic Revival chapel that rises unexpectedly from the trees.

Ultimately, you can explore Sherwood Forest when you want to feel small beneath thousand-year-old titans and chase the ghost of English folklore, or visit Clumber Park when you want wide horizons, glittering water views, and a sense of historic English estate grandeur. Together, they capture the dual nature of the ancient landscape: raw, ancient wilderness on one hand, and majestic, pastoral beauty on the other.

The Seasons of Nottinghamshire

In spring, the county's ancient oak woodlands and grand country estates come to life, with bluebells blanketing the forest floor at Clumber Park and Sherwood Pines. As the weather warms, paths along the River Trent and through Sherwood Forest dry out, making it a fresh and vibrant time to spot wildlife at the Attenborough Nature Reserve or walk through the limestone gorge at Creswell Crags.

Summer brings long, warm days perfect for walking under the deep, shaded canopy of historic Sherwood Forest to visit the thousand-year-old Major Oak. Open heathlands at Budby South Forest burst into vivid purple heather blossoms, while the two-mile Lime Tree Avenue at Clumber Park and the grassy meadows of Wollaton Park offer breezy, picturesque routes.

Autumn is arguably the most dramatic time to go walking in Nottinghamshire, as centuries-old oaks, maples, and beeches across Rufford Abbey and the former "Dukeries" estates turn brilliant shades of bronze, gold, and crimson. Crisp air, crunching leaf piles, and low mist make for ideal woodland walking, often accompanied by the echoing calls of red deer during the autumn rut.

Winter brings a stark, quiet beauty to the landscape, offering open, uninterrupted views through the bare branches of ancient trees along the long-distance Robin Hood Way. Because forest tracks and riverbanks can become quite muddy, winter outings are best enjoyed on well-surfaced estate paths or disused railway lines before retreating to a cosy pub for a meal by the fire.

Discover Your Next Adventure in Nottinghamshire

No matter where you are in Nottinghamshire, memorable trails and beautiful scenery are never far away. Whether you are looking for a quick afternoon stroll with your dog, a rich historical journey through ancient estates, or a full day spent exploring legendary woodlands, these routes highlight the very best of the region.