SHERWOOD FOREST - STAY FOR LESS "££"

Sherwood Forest is located in the heart of England. Although the woods are now more confined than there ancient size when Robin Hood & his Merry Men took refuge from the notorious Sheriff of Nottingham, they still retain a lot of mystery & magic. The story goes that when an English Knight, Sir Robin Loxley returned from the Holy Land after serving King Richard 1 in the Crusades, the Kings brother John had taken over his family castle & lands. This caused Robin to resort to guerrilla tactics with a band of other dispossessed people to regain their rights. So they "stole from the rich & gave to the poor" & the popular legend grew. The area is GB's folklore home land so to soak up the history & follow this trail

ACCOMMODATION

No1 - Sherwood Forest YHA at Forest Corner, Edwinstowe, Notts. NG21 9RN ( Just outside the centre of the village, near the Visitors Centre) tele 0870 770 6026 Email: sherwood@yha.org.uk - £12.75 in 39, 2 - 5 bedded rooms mostly en suite. First class self catering kitchen in this new1999 hostel also with full meals provided, breakfast, packed lunches & evening meals. Lounge, meeting room & laundry. This is an ideal hostel built for the locality & further afield

Igloo Backpackers Hostel at 110 Mansfield Road, Nottingham. NG1 3HL (reasonably close to centre, large Victoria Shopping Centre at South end of Road ) tele 0115 947 5250 Email: reception@igloohostel.co.uk - from £11.00 pn with sheets , 36 beds in 4 rooms. Kitchen with microwave, lounge & laundry facilities.

FOOD for self - cater provisions is available in the Edwinstowe village supermarket, the COOP, which has a reasonable range of fresh & packaged foods. In Nottingham you have lots more shops & restaurants to choose from in the City but the best is a 24 hour SAINSBURY Supermarket along side the Canal, off Castle Boulevard, which also has a good self serve café.

TRAVELLING AROUND after arriving in Nottingham by Rail or Bus from UK links you can get round this City & see the sights & get the Sherwood history on foot. To get to Sherwood its self you need to take either a National Express coach or local area bus from Broardmarsh Bus Station in Nott.

"FREE" SIGHTS TO SEE

1. Nottingham Castle - enter by the East Gate & Robin's statue & walk the ramparts to see the views
2. Nottingham Canal - is a delight to walk along, see the narrow boats moored & feed the ducks
3. Nottingham Lace Market - discover how Nott. Lace is made by hand or machines, good souvenir
4. Nottingham Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem - 1189 oldest Pub in England, with ghosts, have a look!
5. Nottingham Council House - the Nott. Town Hall in the centre of a vast square, good to rest out
6. Nottingham Central Library - on Chapel Bar, the place to check out local history, rest & internet
7. Sherwood Forest, Major Oak - oldest tree in this truly ancient forest, now propped up but original
8. Sherwood Forest, Country Park - visitors centre & medieval outlaw exhibition, try a bow & arrow
9. Sherwood Forest, Rufforth Country Park - with Abbey, walk in the grounds & seek the water mill
10. Edwinstowe, Church & Village - where Robin & Maid Marion were married in this quiet place

CHARGE SIGHTS NOT TO MISS

1. Nottingham, Tales of Robin Hood - step back in time & live the Legend, close to Nott. Castle
2. Nottingham, Castle - original 1069, once home to Kings & Queens of England, re built mid 17C
3. Edwinstowe, Centre Parcs Holiday Centre - luxury park with indoor swim pool, get a day ticket

(Robin, Maid Marian, Little John, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlett, Neil & Cath, Del Boy)

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