Route: Bilsthorpe to Sherwood Pines and return
Distance: Approx 14km
Forestry England map: Click here – we followed the blue trail
Type: Easy, mostly flat and off-road, gravel paths, well maintained, though signage in the pines area for the routes are a bit poor.
I’ve had some great little cycling adventures over the last few years, and I feel inclined to share them, the joy of solo and group adventures and also to motivate myself to get back to moving and adventures. I had a bit of a break after some silly person hit me with their car. So here goes!
This September I visited my parents. They live near the incredible Sherwood Pines and also have a guest bike. A great little mountain bike, perfect for a jaunt into the forest along the well serviced cycleways. The weather was incredible.
We set off from Kirklington Road, and joined the trail of the disused railway, which passes under a few roads, and by a couple of farms. It gets narrow in some places, so I would advise watching for dog walkers with dogs not on leads. There were butterflies fluttering by, and spattering of mushrooms along the trail and wildflowers and ferns adorning the sides of the path.
Vegan Sausage Roll and Oat Milk Latte, Sherwood Pines Cafe, Nottinghamshire
Peering into the trees there were birch and pines and also a much more adventurous mountain bike trail. After a wee turn and tuck under a railway bridge we reached the edge of Sherwood Pines proper. There is a map showing various trails, it was in need of a little repair, the trails are still visible on the map. You can also view the trails here. Heading up from the sign, it’s an easy trip up to the Visitor Centre and Cafe, where we enjoyed various coffees with vegan milk options and even a vegan sausage roll. There are also handy public toilets in the area too.
The sign to Sherwood Pines, and mum looking snazzy with her bike.
After this we set off back, the signs around the forest aren’t very obvious and there are many crossroads and different paths. A phone with a good map and GPS would have been handy, we got a bit lost and judging by more than a few overheard conversation and people standing looking puzzled, we weren’t the only ones. We eventually ended up at the top of the Pines next Center Parcs and then back at the visitor centre, we traced our way back from there.
Blackberries and suspected Hypholoma fasciculare – Sulphur tuft mushroom
All in all, this was a great, route, a comfortable ride in beautiful surroundings. The cafe and toilets are a great facility, just take care to pay attention to your surroundings to you can find your way back, the signposts are sparse and we saw a few other lost cyclists too!
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