Robin Hood’s historic hideaway: the joys of exploring Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Forest

Want to know more about the history of Sherwood Forest? Then ask the Major Oak. It is the largest living organism in Britain, a huge, stocky sumo wrestler from a tree, measuring 11 meters in circumference.

The Major Oak may have lived during the reign of King John in the 12th century, but no one knows for sure how old it is, since you can’t count the rings of a hollow tree.

Sherwood Forest contains nearly 1,000 other ancient oaks – more than all of France and Germany combined.

True, about 400 of them are dead, but a dead oak tree harbors more species than live ones. Huge numbers of insects feed on it. Nuthatches and bats nest in their nooks and crannies. Britain’s rarest false scorpion (false because it really is a spider), Dendrochernes cyrneus lives under the bark of Sherwood’s veterans.

The original Sherwood stretched from just south of Sheffield to Nottingham. Today the Country Park covers just 450 acres, a small part of the forest known to King John and, if he existed, Robin Hood. Tourists flock to the forest in their hundreds of thousands, eager to immerse themselves in all that the site has to offer – acting as a center for biodiversity with a range of exciting activities.

Above is Major Oak, the largest living organism in Britain. It is ‘an immense, stocky Sumo wrestler of a tree, with a girth of 36ft’

For thrill seekers, Go Ape has created a dizzying network of high-level hiking trails through part of Sherwood Pines. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, take a walk along one of the many woodland trails and you may come across one of Robin Hood’s hideouts. Marked cycle routes wind their way across the forest floor, and if you’re looking for a challenge why not take Sustrans Route 6 which runs all the way from London to the forest.

For those looking for a short break, Center Parcs is tucked away in a different part of the forest, with its subtropical swimming paradise, abseiling and spa treatments.

There is so much to see and do in Sherwood Forest that it hardly seems worth mentioning other places in the area.

Still, you don’t want to miss Welbeck Estate, which is home to two museums – the Portland Collection and the Harley Gallery – with world-class exhibitions of both contemporary and ancient art and artifacts. (In the Victorian period, Welbeck Abbey was home to the reclusive 5th Duke of Portland, who lived in a maze of underground tunnels; Duchess Winifred, wife of the 6th Duke, was so good at racing that she built a series of almshouses called The wins.)

A family in one of the swimming pools of the ‘subtropical swimming paradise’ in the Sherwood Forest branch of Center Parcs

“You may come across one of Robin Hood’s hideouts,” Clive writes of Sherwood Forest. Above is an actor dressed as the outlaw in the woods

Rufford Abbey Country Park has extensive woodlands, gardens and lakes just waiting to be explored, and activities for children and adults include archery and adventure golf.

The walled garden of Clumber Park, home to the National Rhubarb Collection, is also well worth a visit, and if you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse of the privately owned Worksop Manor from one of the Sherwood Forest trails.

A stone’s throw from the forest is the aptly named Royal Oak pub, where punters can enjoy hearty English meals by a crackling fire.

Glorious countryside accommodation can be found at Thoresby Hall, a Grade II listed building now in the care of Warner Leisure Hotels

Thoresby Hall, a mammoth collection of neo-Elizabethan towers and finials, is only open to guests over the age of 18

Glorious countryside accommodation can be found at Thoresby Hall, a Grade II listed building now in the care of Warner Leisure Hotels.

The mammoth collection of neo-Elizabethan spires and finials welcomes guests over 18 only, so those with kids in tow can opt for the Forest Lodge Hotel, a traditional 18th-century coaching inn.

There is a campground at Sherwood Pines – some saplings have been grown there from acorns collected from the Major Oak. One day the Major Oak and its fellow ancient species will rot in the ground again and the saplings will be saplings by then, ready – after a few more centuries – to take their place. While all primary school children in the UK are taught about the Amazon rainforest, Sherwood Forest is no less amazing – and on your doorstep.