Walking Trails

Whether you are exploring Nottinghamshire on foot, by bicycle or by car there are plenty of ways to find out more about its rich political, industrial and cultural past. We have produced a series of free downloadable trails which will guide you around the key destinations during your visit. 

For more information on trails across Nottinghamshire, visit the Nottingham Tourism and Travel Centre on Smithy Row - just off Old Market Square.

Learn more about Robin Hood. . .

The tales of Nottinghamshire’s legendary outlaw Robin Hood have been retold down the generations. For any keen Robin Hood fans a must-do experience is to walk around the city centre with Robin Hood himself on a Robin Hood Town Tour.

The Sherwood Forest Adventurer's Map is a new map which offers a tourist trail to visitors to Robin Hood country. Not only does it feature the landmarks associated with Robin Hood, but other nearby attractions like Newstead Abbey, Creswell Crags and Maypole village of Wellow.
 

See how Watson Fothergill shaped the city . . .
 

Victorian architect Watson Fothergill's distinctive red-brick buildings can be seen throughout the city. Download the Watson Fothergill Architect Trail, produced in conjunction with RIBA East Midlands and Castle Rock Brewery, and see the grand banks and newspaper offices - as well as his own elaborate offices in the Lace Market.

Walk with nature. . .

Nottingham Arboretum is a beautiful, historic park dating back to 1852 and located close to the city centre. Said to be the inspiration behind J.M Barrie’s Neverland, it has a collection of over 800 trees, some of which are from the original collection planted in the 19th century. When visiting, make sure to enjoy the Tree Trail and Heritage Trail to fully appreciate the Arboretum’s rich history. You could definitely lose yourself in Neverland here. 

Celebrate Nottingham's LGBTQ+ heritage. . .

LGBTQ+ heritage is everywhere around us. The history is embedded in the buildings and landscapes across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. You can now celebrate places of LGBTQ+ heritage across the city, ranging from pubs and clubs, the famous rainbow crossings created for the 2019 Pride celebrations and many more at the LGBT Walking Tour of Nottingham. To download and view the walking trail online please click here. You can also pick up a printed copy at the Nottingham Tourism and Travel Centre.

Historic Nottinghamshire. . .

There are many special trails in Nottinghamshire that are perfect for history lovers.

The Ashfield and Mansfield Trails explores some of the heritage attractions just north of Nottingham. In the Mansfield Way, you will trace the route of the Mansfield-Southwell railway to Rainworth and pass the Sherwood Pines Forest Park. 

The Civil War Trail takes in many of the sites and buildings that relate to the period, as Nottinghamshire played a central role in the conflicts of the Civil War. You can now learn more about the Civil War at the National Civil War Centre, which acts as a central museum in the country for information and exhibits on the Civil War.

Nearby, the Southwell Heritage Trail highlights some of the top attractions in and around the area including Rufford Abbey Country Park, Sherwood Forest and Sherwood Pines.

Travel further into north Nottinghamshire and you will discover Mayflower Pilgrims’ Country. Discover more about the historic sites associated with the principal players in the Pilgrim Fathers story at your own leisure on the Mayflower Pilgrims Trail.

If you're into solving clues and going on a treasure hunt, the Curious About self-guided heritage trails are the prefect fit! Gather the family and discover hidden and not so hidden treasures of Nottingham, Southwell and Newark.

You can now explore Rufford Abbey on their Abbey Tales tour and discover 800 years of Rufford's history is brought to life. You will walk through the interactive experience, encounter characters through the ages, hear stories from the past and even pick up on the smells and sounds from a time gone by. 

The astonishing Iron Giant of the Erewash Valley, Bennerley Viaduct is a survivor from the age of steam and coal, the longest Victorian wrought iron viaduct still standing the UK. Given a new lease of life in 2022, the viaduct is now open for walking and cycling, and visitors are invited to enjoy the views from the deck and explore nature on the path underneath. Connected to the towpaths of the Nottingham and Erewash canals, and several local walking and cycling routes, it is a local landmark worth including in your plans. 

Nottinghamshire’s literary legends. . .
 

From D.H. Lawrence to Lord Byron, Nottinghamshire has been home to some literary greats. There's a number of literary walking tours you can take to experience some of Nottingham's rich literary heritage, including a ‘Reading the City’ walk with Robin Hood provided by Ezekial Bone Tours.

Be sure to check out the wonderful D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum too. Situated in Eastwood, this fascination museum is dedicated to his life.

Newark foodie trail...

Newark is a charming market town located just off the A1 on the east side of Nottinghamshire. The historic and picturesque market town boasts many heritage attractions and activities along with a range of hotels and breakfasts for an overnight stay. Explore newark on a special foodie trail. 

Something a little different...

Go Quest Adventures offer a self-guided treasure hunt adventure through the streets of Nottingham! The Nottingham Quest is a fun, challenging and engaging way to explore the city centre from a whole different perspective. It's like no treasure hunt you've done before. During your Quest, you will unlock a hidden trail by finding clues, solving puzzles and completing group challenges, earing points along the way all self-guided through the Go Quest Adventures app. See the city's highlights, explore its hidden gems and learn some fun facts along the way. Conquer the Quest and be in for a chance to win a prize in the monthly drawings.  It's like a walking tour with an escape room twist!

Treasure Hunt Nottingham is another fun option, to turn any day into an adventure. Discover the city together by solving clues, scouring the city and following treasure maps. You can expect to explore the city's beautiful hidden beautiful bits, sneak inside the oldest pub in Britain, and wander around a peaceful park in the shadow of the Castle. Spot things you wouldn’t normally notice, like the stone monkey, burdened by the weight of its mortgage. You can go at your own pace and because it works like WhatsApp, so it’s easy to use. You can even start playing in 60 seconds - it’s all on your phones, there’s nothing to print or collect.

The green lung tree trail...

A tree trail at Digby Park, Mapperley, has officially opened as part of Gedling Borough Council’s commitment to protect and create a sustainable environment. More than 500 trees have been planted at the trail at Digby Park so far, including native trees and ornamental trees such as Pride of India, Tibetan Cherry and Large Leaf Lime, which can grow up to 100 feet. 

The trail is lined with saplings of more than 30 different tree species and can be used by pedestrians and cyclists. When fully grown many of the trees will reach heights between 60 and 100 foot and become part of an area called the “Green Lung”.

Each tree along the trail is marked with a plaque featuring a QR code, which when scanned, takes the user to a webpage with detailed information about that species of tree. The trail leads from the entrance at Digby Avenue, Mapperley all the way to Arnold Lane and back.