Accessed by the A614 highway, Sherwood Forest makes a great getaway close to Nottingham city. Rather reduced from the green splendour it evinced in the days of Robin Hood, Sherwood Forest is nevertheless as ecologically important and interesting as it is historically. Around 500,000 visitors a year come to enjoy the Sherwood Forest Country Park, wandering the family nature trails, admiring the huge ancient oaks and teeming insect and bird life. A major attraction is the mighty Major Oak, still flourishing in the forest after 800 years. It is also the site of the popular Robin Hood Festival held annually in summer.
Cresswell Crags
A short distance from the M1 motorway near Nottingham is an ancient limestone gorge, honeycombed with caves, where archaeologists have found traces of Ice Age inhabitants who lived here up to 50,000 years ago. Cresswell Crags is a rare site, featuring Britain's only known Ice Age rock art. At the east end of the gorge visitors can find out its archaeological significance at a museum and education centre, before exploring the area.
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