![\""Lake\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2022\/03\/Attenborough-Nature-Reserve-a8c61cc.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C391"\" "\\"\"Attenborough\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Best walks in Nottinghamshire<\/h2>\nAttenborough Nature Reserve<\/h3>\n
3.8 miles\/5.6km | 2 hours| easy<\/em><\/p>\n Attenborough Nature Reserve<\/a> lies between Derby and Nottingham beside the River Trent and is easily accessed by train, car and bike from both cities. Made up of nine flooded gravel pits, broken up by islands and spits, the reserve is awash with resident and overwintering birds<\/a>. Cattle, little and great egrets have all been spotted at Attenborough, while last winter the attractive Slovenian grebe caused much excitement.<\/p>\n Arrive at the reserve a couple of hours before dusk to walk or cycle the Kingfisher Route for an opportunity to see the full cast of wildlife.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Attenborough Nature Reserve walking route and map<\/a><\/p>\n You may also like:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section> 1.5 miles\/2.4km | 45 mins | easy<\/em><\/p>\n The heaths and glades of Sherwood Forest are the remnants of a significantly larger royal hunting forest that stood 1,000 years ago. Here, that mercurial cove Robin Hood led the Sherriff of Nottingham a merry dance, poaching deer and becoming a folk hero for the oppressed ever since.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Whether he ever existed in the deepest greenwood is a matter of conjecture; the rebel in Lincoln green is an intangible, fanciful link to the England of yore. Sherwood Forest\u2019s majestic Major Oak, on the other hand, is very much the real thing.<\/p>\n This is the tree where, according to folklore, Robin plotted, feasted and hid. It\u2019s over 900 years old and remains one of England\u2019s biggest oaks, but the Major\u2019s seen better days. Its immense hollow trunk throws out vast boughs to all points of the compass, but requires a girdle of poles and stays to support the leafy limbs that would otherwise fracture and fail. The famous tree, nowadays fenced-off for conservation\u2019s sake, is easily reached on accessible paths from the new RSPB Visitor Centre (and caf\u00e9) at Edwinstowe.<\/p>\n Sherwood Forest walking route and map<\/a><\/p>\n 6 miles\/9.6km | 4 hours | moderate<\/em><\/p>\n Gotham village is famous for the legendary Merry Tales of the Mad Men of Gotham<\/em>, first published in 1540, in later editions sanitised to Wise Men<\/em>. One story tells how the Wise Men acted as madmen to dissuade King John from passing through the village and taxing them, madness then being thought contagious.<\/p>\n These numerous tales of simple-minded logic include raking the moon out of a pond, trying to drown eels and a rider carrying a corn sack on his shoulders to take the weight off his old horse. Many of the tales date from the 12th century, but it is a mystery how the hapless villagers acquired their reputation.<\/p>\n Explore the home of the legendary Wise Men<\/em> of Gotham on this butterfly and wildflower-rich walk in the River Trent valley.<\/p>\n![\""Nature\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2020\/11\/Attenborough-Nature-Reserve-Nottinghamshire-b3b2218.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"Attenborough\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Sherwood Forest<\/h3>\n
![\""The\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2018\/09\/ACNNGJ-3217e10.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"The\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Gotham<\/h3>\n
![\""Gotham\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2011\/09\/Gotham-Hill-Wood--17f026a.jpg?quality=90&resize=619%2C413"\" "\\"\"Gotham\\"\/")
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![\""Chapel\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/22\/2019\/02\/Harley-Gallery-and-Clumber-Park-Nottinghamshire-42b47c4.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"Chapel\\"\/")
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