Creswell Crags to Edwinstowe

After an entertaining dinner where the guy behind me spent the evening explaining to his wife ( I think) what she should do with regard to friends, parents , money , red wine …you name it , he knew the right thing to do with “no axe to grind luv!”

A good nights sleep and the anticipated downpour and thunder has not materialised and it’s just mist and a bit of drizzle !

Creswell Crags is an enclosed limestone gorge and The cliffs in the ravine contain several caves that were occupied during the last ice age, between around 43,000 and 10,000 years ago. The caves contain the northernmost cave art in Europe.
The caves were seasonally occupied by nomadic groups of people during the Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods. Evidence of Neolithic, Bronze Age, Roman and post-medieval activity has also been found there. There is evidence of Neanderthal-occupation 50,000–60,000 years ago.
I took a moody walk around before the centre opened!

Then a 12 mile hike cross country and through woodland and forest !

Eventually I reach the Major Oak - a mighty English Oak that people have wondered about and whether Robin Hood and his outlaws did hide within the trunk to escape the clutches of the Sheriff of Nottingham, as the legends suggest.
It is arguably the best known and certainly one of the biggest Oak trees in Britain, with a canopy spread of 28 metres, a trunk circumference of 11 metres and an estimated weight of 23 tonnes.

Today, however, its health is struggling. In 2025, its crown has produced fewer leaves than at any time in recent memory.

Sherwood Forest consists of the remnants of an ancient Royal Forest . It was proclaimed by William the Conqueror and mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. The reserve has the highest concentration of ancient trees in Europe.

Today, Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve encompasses 424.75 hectares (1,049.6 acres),[4] surrounding the village of Edwinstowe. The reserve contains more than a thousand ancient oaks which are known to be more than 500 years old, with the Major Oak being twice that age. Sherwood Forest is within an area which used to be called "Birch Lund", which is Viking in origin, now known as Birklands.
Once an area of woodland and heathland stretching over 30 miles from Nottingham to Worksop, Sherwood Forest was established as a royal hunting preserve in the 10th century.

Made legendary as the home of the famous outlaw in the ballads of Robin Hood,
Revived by the Normans, the forest was enjoyed by successive kings and the link to royalty continued as parts of the forest were acquired by nobility and four main ducal estates developed. This unique area, known as The Dukeries, contains the estates of Clumber, Welbeck, Thoresby and Worksop.

It’s a short walk to Edwinstowe village .

St Mary's Church is a parish church in Edwinstowe.
Edwin of Northumbria, King and Saint, was killed in the Battle of Hatfield Chase against his rival King Penda of Mercia. His body was buried in the forest, by the time his friends came to collect him to take him to be buried in York in 633, a small wooden chapel had been erected. This chapel became St Mary’s Church .The name of the village arrived from King Edwin.

It is the church where, according to legend, Robin Hood and Maid Marian were married.

Inside I’m greeted by a steward who unfolds the history including secret face in the east window dating from 1864 and chantry altar slab saved from Henry VIII’s clutches! He also explains where Will Scarlets grave was ! And where Marion is buried - Dunmow in Essex!

Think it’s time for a beer to celebrate ! ( Well it is the end of the trail …but I of course have cherrypicked parts !)

12 miles today … lots of forest !

Tomorrow a bit moreRead more