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. Another must-see attraction is historic Hodsock Priory, one of Nottinghamshire’s heritage gems. Every spring Hodsock Priory welcomes visitors to the estate to see their bluebell-covered woodland, always at their very best in May and equally as stunning as their famous Snowdrops at Hodsock event. Enjoy the great outdoors at the Conkers, the award winning attraction at The Heart of the National Forest, a unique mix of indoor and outdoor experiences to keep you and your family engaged for hours. For more suggestions, visit our dedicated Country Parks and Gardens page.

If you're looking for a unique way to explore the area, why not try the Go Quest Adventure app and enjoy a self-led treausure hunt throughout Nottingham City Centre? During your Quest, you'll unlock a hidden trail by finding clues, solving puzzles and completing group challenges, earing points along the way. See the city's highlights, explore its hidden gems and learn some fun facts along the way. It's like a walking tour with an escape room twist!

Join extreme 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. For the real adventurers, a visit to Notts Maze is a must. Find your way out of the maze, or try your hand at archery and axe throwing! To find more outdoor adventures, visit our Adventure Sports page.

Enjoy a visit to Thoresby Park and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, visit the Gallery, see an outdoor event, or even catch a segway tour. If you want a walk closer to the City, visit Highielfds Park and 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. 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 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.

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. 

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. The area is also host to some amazing outdoor festivals such as Detonate Festival, Spledour Festival, Gloworm Festival and Nottingham Green Festival to name just a few.

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 page for the latest outdoor events happening all year round.