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Nottinghamshire
is a county with something for everyone – from the
buzz of central Nottingham to the peace and
tranquillity of the Nottinghamshire. Stately homes, market towns, forest walks, fantastic shopping
and Robin Hood, of course – Nottinghamshire has them
all.
Nottingham
is the jewel in the crown, with its castle, home of
the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham in the days of
Robin Hood. More
unusual attractions include a huge complex of caves
beneath a premier shopping mall, and the Galleries
of Justice, an award-winning museum tracing the
history of law and order down the ages.
Nottingham offers one of the top shopping
experiences in the country, with everything from
designer names such as Paul Smith and Hugo Boss to
interesting and individual boutiques.
Take the tram through the piazza-like Market
Square or sample the famous night life, including
‘Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem’, reputedly England’s
oldest pub.
Sport
in the city is well catered for with cricket at Trent
Bridge, and tennis at Nottingham
Tennis Centre.
Both venues host international competitions –
the Test Match at Trent Bridge and the Nottingham
Open, preceding Wimbledon.
The National
Water Sports Centre is one of the largest
providers of water sports in Europe with sailing,
kayaking, canoeing, water skiing and white water
rafting all on offer. Alternatively try skating in the
home city of Torvill and Dean at the National
Ice Centre.
The heritage
of south Nottinghamshire includes Wollaton
Hall, a spectacular Tudor mansion set in a 500
acre deer park, and now home to a natural history
museum, and Newstead
Abbey, the ancestral home of the poet Lord Byron,
also set in beautiful parkland and gardens between
Nottingham and Mansfield.
Just over the border is Belvoir
Castle, home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland,
presiding magnificently over the attractive Vale of
Belvoir and offering a superb day out for all the
family.
Moving
north, the heritage theme continues at Southwell with
its Minster,
the best kept secret among the forty-two English
cathedrals, nestling in the heart of a Georgian
village setting.
Nearby explore The
Workhouse and its history by following in the
footsteps of hundreds of paupers in the 19th
century.
Newark,
an historic market town with its castle standing
proudly alongside the river Trent, has strong Civil
War connections and one of the most beautiful market
places in the country.
Take time to visit the nearby Air
Museum, or the Showground when the largest antiques
fair in Europe is in full swing.
Most famous
of all,
Sherwood Forest runs like a spine through the
centre of the county.
It was here that Robin Hood and his Merrie Men
lived as outlaws.
Today you can still walk through the forest to
find Robin Hood’s tree, the Major Oak, and the visitor
centre with its displays of Robin Hood’s life
and times, plus the important natural history of this
National Nature Reserve.
Not
far away is Sherwood
Pines where you can tackle ‘Go
Ape’, an adventure course set over 40 feet up in
the treetops. Also
in the area try archery, go-karting, and paintball or
just hire a bike to experience the forest close up.
Sherwood
Forest adjoins the tract of countryside known as the
Dukeries covering the ducal estates of Welbeck,
Thoresby and Clumber. Welbeck now offers an innovative art
gallery, farm shop and garden centre.
Thoresby has an exclusive retail and theatre
complex set in the old stables, and Clumber
offers almost 4000 acres of unspoilt countryside for
walking, biking and relaxing.
Also in the area are the caves with the
earliest paintings in Europe at Creswell
Crags, an educational experience set in an
impressive glacial valley.
Further north
still is the Pilgrim
Trail, an historic romp in the footsteps of the
Pilgrim Fathers, the founders of modern day America.
Alternatively take a step back into the more
recent past at Mr
Straw’s House preserved at Worksop, or visit the
spectacular snowdrop display at Hodsock
Priory.
Children
are well catered for throughout the county with The
Tales of Robin Hood at Nottingham, the White
Post Farm Centre, Wonderland
Pleasure Park and Sundown
Adventureland, a theme park especially for the
under tens, amongst others.
There
are plenty of opportunities for top quality
refreshment and local food on your travels.
Ollerton Mill Tea Shop has been voted the best
tea shop in the UK (by the British Tea Council), ice
cream from Thaymar
at Bothamsall is served in Harrods and Tuxford
Windmill still grinds flour when the wind blows,
and does an excellent tour to show you how.
Take home fresh local produce from the award
winning Gonalston
Farm Shop or visit one of the many farmers’
markets throughout the county.
After
your trip, you can rest assured that you can unwind in
the tranquil surroundings of a Nottinghamshire farm,
where traditional hospitality and personal service are
guaranteed.
Links
Tourist
Information: Nottingham:
Tel:
00 44 (0)8444 775678
Mansfield:
Tel: 00 44 (0)1623 463026
Newark:
Tel: 00 44 (0)1636 655765
Ollerton:
Tel: 00 44 (0)1623 824545
Retford:
Tel: 00 44 (0)1777 860780
Sherwood
Forest
Tel: 00 44 (0)1623 824490
Southwell:
Tel: 00 44 (0)1636 819038
Transport Links:
Nottingham
Travel Guide
Cycle
Hire
Tel:
00 44 (0) 1623 822855 (Sherwood
Pines)
River
Cruising
Tel: 00 44 (0) 115 9100400 (Princess
River Cruises)
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