Walking
Where to walk?
Rights of way
There are over 1600 miles of rights of way in Nottinghamshire. You can walk on all rights of way; footpaths, bridleways, byways and restricted byways, which are all shown on Ordnance Survey Landranger and Explorer maps.
We produce information and guides to help you make the most of Nottinghamshire's paths, and run an online forum called RouteXchange - download maps and directions, share routes and post reviews.
If you want to make up your own routes you can look at maps for your area at your local library, or you can buy them from most bookshops or online.
View an interactive map of the rights of way in Nottinghamshire online.
Country Parks
We look after four country parks in Nottinghamshire
- Rufford Abbey Country Park
- Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve
- Bestwood Country Park
- Cotgrave Country Park.
Our parks are open 364 days a year, seven days a week. Check out opening hours of park facilities. Admission is free, with just a small car parking charge at Rufford and Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve during peak season.
Do you have limited mobility? Take a look at information for disabled visitors and wheelchair users.
Local Nature Reserves and other green spaces
We look after seven Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) and many more greenspaces which make up our 'green estate'. Many of these sites are open for walkers, and all are free to visit.
Open Access land
There are nearly 80 areas of Open Access land in Nottinghamshire which walkers can use.
Accessible walks
Guides to walks accessible to all can be downloaded from the Greenwood Community Forest website: www.greenwoodforest.org.uk, or ordered from us for free. Contact us to request the guides
The surfaced towpaths alongside the Grantham Canal, Chesterfield Canal and Nottingham Canal are also accessible to many different users.
Long distance routes
There are two long distance walks in Nottinghamshire, the Trent Valley Way and the Robin Hood Way. Both are shown on Ordnance Survey Explorer maps.
Other places to walk
Some areas of farmland are open to walkers through a Defra and Natural England scheme called Countrywalks. You can search for routes in Nottinghamshire on their website: http://countrywalks.defra.gov.uk
Share your countryside photos
Want to bask in, or share your appreciation of, the Nottinghamshire countryside? We run an online photo sharing group called Flickr Best of Notts website: www.flickr.com/groups/bestofnotts where you can post your best photos of Nottinghamshire and browse images by local photographers.
Useful contacts
Contact us for more information about walking in Nottinghamshire, or if you have come across a problem while out on a walk you can report this online.
Report a problem with a right of way (countryside, waterside tracks)
Report a problem with a footway/pavement (urban areas and jitties)
More useful contacts for walkers
Walking publications
| Publication Name | Price (inc p&p) |
|---|---|
|
RouteXchange Online routes forum where you can download maps and directions, share routes and give reviews. |
Free online |
|
Explore Sherwood Forest 1 Five circular walks with maps and directions. Ranging from 3.5 to 9 miles. Routes in Clumber Park, Ollerton, Edwinstowe & Sherwood Forest, Farnsfield & Kirklington and Vicar Water park, near Clipstone |
£2.50 |
|
Explore Sherwood Forest 2 Five circular walks with maps and directions. Ranging from 3 to 8 miles. Routes in Laxton, Warsop, Sherwood Forest, Blyth and Creswell Crags. |
£2.50 |
|
Exploring North Nottinghamshire Six circular walks with maps and directions. Ranging from 2.5 to 7 miles. Routes in Sutton-on-Trent, Daneshill Lakes Nature Reserve, Carlton-in-Lindrick, Retford, Mattersey and South Leverton. |
£2.50 |
|
Explore the countryside around Newark Five circular walks with maps and directions. Ranging from 2.5 to 8.5 miles. Routes in Southwell, Farndon , Syerston, Newark and Bleasby. |
£2.50 |
|
Exploring Greenwood 1 Five circular walks in the Greenwood Community Forest, with maps and directions. Ranging from 3.5 to 6 miles. Routes in Underwood, Beeston, Brierley Forest park, Calverton, Swingate. |
£2.50 |
|
Exploring Greenwood 2 Five circular walks in the Greenwood Community Forest, with maps and directions. Ranging from 3.5 to 8.5 miles. Routes in Blidworth, Burton Joyce, Greasley, Teversal Trails, Trowell |
£2.50 |
|
Exploring the Robin Hood Line Six countryside walks from Robin Hood Line stations, with maps and directions. Ranging from 4.5 to 6.5 miles. Routes start at Bestwood, Hucknall, Newstead, Mansfield Woodhouse, Shirebrook, Whitwell |
£2.50 |
|
The Romantic Canal – along the Grantham Guidebook to walking the 33 miles of the Grantham canals containing routecards for the linear route and circular walks from it. |
£6.50 |
|
Exploring Nottinghamshire a taste of what’s on offer A sampler containing 6 walks, 1 horse ride and 1 bike ride. Including maps and directions. |
Free |
Out and About in Nottinghamshire [PDF 1.6MB]  Guide to publications for horse riding, cycling and walking in Nottinghamshire. Listed by area with contact details. |
Free |
|
Finding Your Way - a guide to public paths in Nottinghamshire [PDF 971KB] A guide to using rights of way. Includes how to identify rights of way on a map and what to look for when navigating in the countryside. |
Free |
Order walking publications
To order any of the above publications either call us on tel: 08449 80 80 80 or send a cheque made payable to Nottinghamshire County Council to the Countryside Access team.
