Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood & A BIG Surprise
- Kag & Ali
- Mar 9, 2020
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 10, 2020
Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood a big Surprise, this location has it all! 'If you go down to the woods today, you are in for a big surprise...' and boy were we! So what do two juvenile middle-age ladies get up to when taking a stroll through Sherwood Forest on a nice sunny day? Back in 2017, we visited one of my [Kag] childhood haunts. I don’t think I have ever laughed so much on this visit though.
The Major Oak isn’t a soldier!
Sherwood Forest is the home of the Major Oak, a tree where it is said that Robin Hood and his Merry Men used to hide away from the Sheriff of Nottingham. Now, it hasn’t been proven that Robin ever existed, but it is thought he was based on a real person.
Sherwood Forest & Robin Hood: A Brief History
The Forest is old, very old. They have found flint stones there dating it back to the time of the dinosaurs (ask Alison what it was like during that time 😊).
The Normans invaded in 1066 (they invaded everywhere) and the area was turned into a Royal Hunting Forest for Kings such as King John (he is considered the bad guy due to the taxes he enforced) and Edward I (he was the very tall, grumpy King). The forest was said to cover over 100,000 acres at the time.
Robin Hood
This guy used to rob from the rich and give it to the poor, but did he actually exist?
There is no proof he did but could have been based on several people at the time. The one I remember is that it could have been the Earl of Huntingdon, but that isn’t probable either.
At the end of the day, does it really matter if he actually existed? How cool to have a handsome hero, dressed in green (or Lincoln Green to give it it’s the correct name) whilst doing their ‘charity work’, roaming the forest and hiding in trees from the baddies.
Not only that, we cannot forget the love interest, Maid Marian! She was either related to nobility or not, depending on which website you read or film you watch!
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
How did we Find Sherwood Forest?
This is a place I used to play in as a child, but now it’s fenced off and alarmed. Would you believe that certain members of the human race have tried to set fire to this historic tree? Why on earth would you do that!! I know that many of the branches are now held up with poles, but it is old. We all need help when we age!
We parked up and the first thing we see is a statue of Robin Hood and Little John fighting with staffs on a bridge. Now, liking every opportunity for a photo, we set about trying to find sticks to re-enact this event. A small group of BT engineers (equivalent to Telstra) was working in the area and joined in, we had such a laugh with them. Eventually, they had to go back to work, so we set off to find ‘the tree’.
Along the way, we did a video about the forest, which turned out to be very silly, surprisingly! How on earth did we start talking about me and my ex Robin Hood and how he had run off with Maid Marion because of her long hair and pointy hat, I will never know lol.
After, what seemed like the longest trek ever (I can’t remember it being so far away from the car park), we found the poor old tree. It was held up with posts, but looking better than it did last time I saw it, which was a number of years ago now. Good job we couldn’t get anywhere near it as we couldn’t have squeezed inside it even if we tried!
We did our statuary photo and selfies and then decided it was time to go. We had people to see and see and places to be!
We went a different way back to the car park and made a point of searching out little wooden features that were dotted around the edge of the footpaths such as houses, animal heads and faces. They were a great way to utilise tree stumps. All was good until we got to one area of the forest and there in front of us was a group of wooden stumps, all carved into the same design. It was either done by someone bored with doing the finer details, not very talented, or someone with a wicked sense of humour. It was as if the person after doing the 100th little fairy house just went "you know what... F#*k it!" and went for a totally different design. I will leave it up to you to work out what they are supposed to be. Anyway, as expected, we totally lost it! How could you not! [as seen in the video attached at the bottom of the blog!]
How do I Find Sherwood Forest?
Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre, Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire. Sherwood Forest stretches between Nottingham and Worksop, approximately 30 miles of woodland and moor/heathland.
Car parking is available, although there is a charge for this facility, so make sure you have change with you. For Satnav directions to the car park, please enter the postcode NG21 9QB. (Please note: do not upset your Satnav whilst out and about as we find it eventually gets its revenge on you!)
The Visitor Centre and walks around the forest are free of charge and free guides are available at the Centre. There are a number of walks of varying lengths, all fairly flat and easy to follow trails unless you are Kag and Ali and haven’t a clue where you are going and walk miles when it should have been a short stroll!
At the Visitor Centre, there are a number of things to do and see, such as a much-needed café and souvenir shop for the compulsory wooden bow and arrow set, plus the cap and the fetching feather! You can also find out all about Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
The Centre accommodates disabled visitors and staff can direct you to the best routes to follow.
At certain times of the year, there are activities such are jousting, archery and sword fighting. We missed it, bugger! Check the Visitor Centre website for details.
Please note! We cannot guarantee that the Centre will have the BT guys there to have fun and rein-act with, sorry!
Being a local, I am biased with this recommendation. It’s a good trip out and about if you like history, walking trails and a good story. The village of Edwinstowe is worth a look too! 'Serious' history on Sherwood Forest - More
Written by Kag Allwood
Blogger, Paranormal investigator, tour guide for Adelaide's Haunted Horizons and avid traveller and fun seeker!
© Kag & Ali's Mundane Adventures 2020
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