Rufford Abbey Country Park
Rufford Abbey Country Park
Ollerton
Nottinghamshire
NG22 9DF
Download a map of the park [PDF 247KB] 
Come and visit lovely Rufford Abbey Country Park, 150 acres of historic parkland, woodland and gardens in the North Nottinghamshire "Dukeries".
This varied park includes the ruins of a medieval monastery, a contemporary craft centre, gardens, woodland walks, children's play village, sculpture trail, and a lake. We have lots of special events too. Bring the family for a relaxing and inexpensive day out.
Entry to the park, gardens and Abbey is free, and we're open every day except Christmas Day. There's a £3 charge for car parking at peak times (all year season ticket available priced £15). Our basic opening hours are 10am to 5pm, but there are slight seasonal variations so please view the full list of when the various facilities on site open and close.
The Maze
How to get here
Map showing how to get to Rufford Abbey Country Park (Link will open a new browser window)
For public transport to the park contact Traveline tel:0870 608 2 608 website: www.traveline.org.uk. If you are travelling by car you may find the AA Route Planner helpful in planning your route website: www.theaa.com/route-planner.
Contact us
Visitor Information tel: 01623 821338 daily 10.30 - 16.30
or 08449 80 80 80 (8.00 - 20.00 Monday to Friday and 8.00 to 12 noon Saturday) e-mail: info.rufford@nottscc.gov.uk
Catering: Savile Restaurant and Coach House Cafe: tel: 01623 821310.
You can get married at Rufford Mill! Please call for a brochure, tel: 01623 821310.
The Talbot Suite, Rufford Mill
Things to see and do
- Woodland and lakeside walks
- Romantic ruins of 12th century abbey and later country house
- Children's Play Village and Children's Garden - for youngsters aged three to eight
- Exhibition on the life of Rufford's medieval monks
- Modern sculpture trail
- Savile Restaurant & Coach House Cafe
- The Camera Obscura
- The Wheel of Fortune Maze
- Modern ceramics in the Apsidal Gallery
- Fabulous free events such as the Earth and Fire international ceramics fair
- Changing exhibitions of contemporary art and craft in the Craft Centre Gallery.
Craft Centre Gallery
Getting around the park
The site is flat and thus easy for pushchairs, prams, wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Take a look at our plan of the park including accessible routes [PDF 247KB] This is a large file and may take time to download.
Need more information about about getting around? Download our access statement [PDF 30KB]
Push wheelchairs are available for loan from the Craft Centre Shop, tel. 01623 821347.
We also offer electric mobility scooters for loan at £2 per hour. Please book mobility scooters in advance, tel: 01623 821338 10.30am to 4.30pm fax: 01623 824840
Dogs and cycling
Dogs are welcome in our park, but please keep them on a lead.
Cycling is not allowed in the park, but we provide bike racks so you can park up and enjoy the paths and woodland walks on foot.
Award winning
Rufford Abbey Country Park is a Green Flag award winning park. It is also a quality assured visitor attraction under the VAQAS national award scheme, and a Natural England Accredited Country Park. In 2009 it won an England for Excellence Silver Tourism Award.
Join our volunteers
We welcome local people and visitors who want to get involved in the work of the park. Volunteers and helpers at conservation task days or park events are always welcome. Ring the Ranger team for a chat to find out more: tel: 01623 821334 or e-mail: leanne.diver@nottscc.gov.uk
Why not join the Friends of Rufford? It's a group of park supporters with a programme of social events, also offering the chance to get involved in exciting park improvement projects. The group also carries out fund raising, to help make Rufford an even better park for its users. Membership is just £10 per year (discount for two people at same address).
