Get Lost Mountaineering

Sherwood Forest & Budby South Forest from the Visitor Centre

Start/Finish

Sherwood Forest main car park which is off the B6034 road from Edwinstowe traffic lights, north towards the A616. It is well sign posted and just after the road into the Visitor Centre which has no parking at all.

Distance/Time

10 km  About 3 - 4 hours

Peaks

No peaks as this walk is almost entirely level.  OS Explorer 270: Sherwood Forest

Introduction

Sherwood Forest used to be massive and actually reached almost to the wals of Nottingham Castle. It is most famous as the home of Robin Hood and his Merry Men and now Major Oak estimated to be 800 – 1100 years old. The forest is not particularly well sign posted unless you are following the main trails to the major attractions but this route is easy to navigate. The new Visitor centre has a cafe and toilets with many craft and gift shops around. There is also a modern youth hostel, YHA, close to the visitor centre. There are some maps around the forest which can help with where you are. Naturists are sometimes seen in Budby South Forest! There are notices about the rules for them.

Route

(1) From the visitor centre, walk left around the cricket ground. Pass the playground then take the next path left. It soon forks so go left which is signed for Budby Reserve. Follow this fairly straight track for just over 2 km, crossing major tracks and with gentle gradients in places. Eventually reach a major junction with a gate onto a major track. You should be at the south east corner of Ladysmith Plantation.

(2) Go through the gate and turn left, west, onto the major track. Follow the track for about 1.3 km to reach a crossroads where the sign is broken. Head south, the only direction not signed as that part of the sign post is broken. Follow the track, much of it gently uphill and mainly straight until it seems to end at a T junction. Turn left. Soon after a main track goes off right. The large tree at this junction is Centre Tree which used to be isolated but is now surrounded by silver birch. There is a notice board and map opposite the tree.

(3) Ignore the track going right and go straight ahead, east, signed Major Oak. You are now on the Robin Hood Way. The track is fairly straight and seems to go on forever but ends at a T junction. Turn right and almost immediately reach the Major Oak where there are tents and stalls. Go past the oak and walk with your back to it on a track signed for the Visitor Centre which is just under a kilometre away.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 7^th and 9^th August, 2023.

(b) The Visitor Centre cafe is fairly basic and there is more choice in the Art and Craft centre on the road where the youth hostel is.