Walking

There are over 1600 miles of rights of way in Nottinghamshire, and walkers have the run of them all. There are also nearly 80 areas of Open Access land which walkers can use. Walking is a low cost way of getting some exercise, exploring the countryside and making short journeys.

We produce information and guides to help you get the most out of Nottinghamshire's paths, and run an online forum called RouteXchange where you can download maps and directions, share routes and give reviews.

If you are interested are taking part on one of our guided walks please visit our Whats on section of the site and search for items under the guided walk category.

Guide to walks accessible to all can be downloaded as pdfs from the Greenwood Community Forest website www.greenwoodforest.org.uk, or ordered from us, for free. Contact us to request the guides

The surfaced towpaths alongside the Grantham Canal, Chesterfield Canal and Nottingham Canal are another alternative.

You can walk on all rights of way; footpaths, bridleways, byways and restricted byways as well as on Open Access land, these are all shown on Ordnance Survey Landranger and Explorer maps. Maps for your area are available for reference at your local library, alternatively you can buy them from good bookshops or online. Check which Ordnance Survey Explorer maps cover your area [PDF 338KB]

You are also welcome to visit our offices to view the Definitive Map for Nottinghamshire, please contact us if you would like to come in.

Some areas of farmland are open to walkers through a Defra/Natural England scheme called Countrywalks. You can search for routes in Nottinghamshire on their website http://countrywalks.defra.gov.uk

There are two long distance walks in Nottinghamshire, the Trent Valley Way and the Robin Hood Way. Both are shown on Ordnance Survey Explorer maps.

Each year Nottinghamshire County Council co-ordinates Walk Week, a collection of walks for all ages and abilities. This year, walk week ran from 17th May to 26th May 2008. The week coincided with "Walk to School" week and included family walks over the May bank holiday.

Want to bask in, or share your appreciation of, the Nottinghamshire countryside? We run an online photo sharing group called Flickr Best of Notts, where you can post your best photos of Nottinghamshire and browse images by local photographers.

Contact us for more information about walking in Nottinghamshire, or if you have come across a problem while out on a walk you can report this online.

Report a problem with a right of way (countryside, waterside tracks)
Report a problem with a footway/pavement (urban areas and jitties)

More useful contacts for walkers

Explore Sherwood Forest 1 Five circular walks with maps and directions. Ranging from 3.5 to 9 miles. Routes in Clumber Park, Ollerton, Edwinstowe & Sherwood Forest, Farnsfield & Kirklington and Vicar Water park, near Clipstone	£2.50
Explore Sherwood Forest 2 Five circular walks with maps and directions. Ranging from 3 to 8 miles. Routes in Laxton, Warsop, Sherwood Forest, Blyth and Creswell Crags.	£2.50
Exploring North Nottinghamshire Six circular walks with maps and directions. Ranging from 2.5 to 7 miles. Routes in Sutton-on-Trent, Daneshill Lakes Nature Reserve, Carlton-in-Lindrick, Retford, Mattersey and South Leverton.	£2.50
Explore the countryside around Newark Five circular walks with maps and directions. Ranging from 2.5 to 8.5 miles. Routes in Southwell, Farndon , Syerston, Newark and Bleasby.	£2.50
Exploring Greenwood 1 Five circular walks in the Greenwood Community Forest, with maps and directions. Ranging from 3.5 to 6 miles. Routes in Underwood, Beeston, Brierley Forest park, Calverton, Swingate.	£2.50
Exploring Greenwood 2 Five circular walks in the Greenwood Community Forest, with maps and directions. Ranging from 3.5 to 8.5 miles. Routes in Blidworth, Burton Joyce, Greasley, Teversal Trails, Trowell	£2.50
Exploring the Robin Hood Line Six countryside walks from Robin Hood Line stations, with maps and directions. Ranging from 4.5 to 6.5 miles. Routes start at Bestwood, Hucknall, Newstead, Mansfield Woodhouse, Shirebrook, Whitwell	£2.50
The Romantic Canal – along the Grantham Guidebook to walking the 33 miles of the Grantham canals containing routecards for the linear route and circular walks from it.	£6.50
Exploring Nottinghamshire a taste of what’s on offer A sampler containing 6 walks, 1 horse ride and 1 bike ride. Including maps and directions.	Free
Out and About in Nottinghamshire 2007-08 [PDF 1214KB] Guide to publications for horse riding, cycling and walking in Nottinghamshire. Listed by area with contact details.	Free
Finding Your Way - a guide to public paths in Nottinghamshire [PDF 533KB] A guide to using rights of way. Includes how to identify rights of way on a map and what to look for when navigating in the countryside.	Free
RouteXchange Online routes forum where you can download maps and directions, share routes and give reviews.	Free online forum
Guided walks brochure [PDF 674KB] A programme of guided walks	Free to download.

To order any of the above publications either call Notts Connect on 08449 80 80 80 or send a cheque made payable to Nottinghamshire County Council to our address

Back to top