I have lots of emotions and blog posts running around in my head today but I don't have the time or brain cells to make them coherent or give them the justice they deserve. I thought instead I would share a review that I've completed on Sherwood Forest for Supersavvyme and the Daily Mail online.
We live about 35 miles from Sherwood Forest and until the start of June I'd never actually been there!! How crazy is that? Obviously I watched Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves back in 1991 and laughed my ass off at their interpretation of Nottingham Castle but that was about as close as I got to the legend of Robin Hood. So as part of our trying to find cheap or free things to do over the Summer we decided that we'd go there!
First up getting there is not easy!! Apparently we left at the wrong junction of the motorway and there wasn't a SINGLE sign between the motorway and the Forest! Now obviously I can see that I'm IN the damn Forest but I want to be in a specific part that I can't bloody find!!! To make matters worse when I calmly shrieked at tried to discuss the fact with the Lady at the desk she said that I should've got off at a different junction!!! Sodding cheek!! My advice if you plan on going there......take a Satnav or at least a map!!
However, that was the only downside!! There was plenty of room for the kids to run around and (rather intelligently I thought) we bought the kids bows and arrows before we walked through the Forest so they could run around and be Robin Hood!
One of the biggest attractions in the Forest in a tree called the Major Oak. It's over a 1,000 years old and is still growing but is so big it needs to be held up:
I thought that all the posts would detract from the beauty of it but actually when you are there it's still pretty cool! The forest itself feels quite primeval but I don't know if that's because we were absorbed in the Legend of Robin Hood or if it's because I'm such a girl and am always expecting things to jump out of the Forest at me.....when I say 'things' I obviously mean Axe Murderers and the like!!!
There is a small visitors centre and cafe there but mainly people visit to see the Major Oak or to walk or bike through the forest. The walking is for any levels from a gentle amble around to orienteering. I loved the fact that most of it is wheelchair friendly and you can take dogs on leads!
To read more about how to get there or to see what other cool things you can do in the UK with the kids on the cheap, then click here:
The link takes you to a map of England and you need to click on each area for the attractions to show up! I wrote the Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire ones!!!!
*Disclosure - I was paid for my contribution to the Daily Mail website through Supersavvyme.
*Disclosure - I was paid for my contribution to the Daily Mail website through Supersavvyme.
