Dog Walks in Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire is a gentler proposition than its hillier neighbours, but for anyone living in the East Midlands — or just passing through — it offers some genuinely distinctive dog walking that you simply can't find elsewhere in the country. This is Robin Hood country, and the ancient oaks and broad sandy rides of Sherwood Forest are the undisputed centrepiece, along with a surprising cluster of grand country estates and their landscaped parklands.

The terrain is mostly flat to rolling, which makes Nottinghamshire an unusually accessible county for older dogs, puppies and anyone who isn't up to a full day on the hills. Instead of altitude, the county offers ancient woodland, historic parkland and enormous open skies.

Top Areas for Dog Walks in Nottinghamshire

Edwinstowe (3 walks) is the obvious base — it's the village at the heart of Sherwood Forest, home to the Major Oak and within a short drive of the vast Clumber Park National Trust estate. Southwell (1) adds a quieter option, with its minster and surrounding farmland paths offering a softer, more rural feel.

What to Expect

Expect sandy forest rides, wide gravel tracks and easy-going woodland paths rather than rugged walking. Clumber Park has miles of traffic-free tracks suitable for any dog, and the Major Oak trail at Sherwood is short, flat and well-signposted. Deer are present in some estate walks — Clumber especially — so a reliable recall or a long line is a good idea. Ticks can be an issue in bracken during summer, so check your dog over afterwards. Parking at both Sherwood and Clumber is pay-and-display and rarely a problem except on bank holidays.

Planning Your Trip

Edwinstowe has the best concentration of walker-focused facilities, with several cafes and pubs welcoming muddy paws after a loop of the forest. Clumber Park has its own cafe and visitor facilities, and the National Trust welcomes dogs on most of the estate year-round. The county works well as a day trip from Nottingham, Sheffield or Lincoln, and you'll find a handful of dog-welcoming cottages and inns scattered around the Dukeries. For a proper day of dog walks in Nottinghamshire, combine a morning at the Major Oak with an afternoon at Clumber — you'll easily fill the day and your dog will sleep the whole drive home. The dog-friendly Nottinghamshire scene is smaller than its western neighbours but genuinely welcoming once you know where to look.