Kings Clipstone Visitors' Guide

There are plenty of walks and other things to do on days out around Kings Clipstone as the village is in the centre of a host of visitor attractions and recreational activities.

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Angling
The Nottingham Anglers Association has several facilities near Kings Clipstone.
Sherwood Farm Park Fishery on the River Maun is popular with local anglers.

Archery
Pines Park Archers field archery club just a mile from Kings Clipstone holds regular club and open shoots.

Arts and Crafts
Harley Gallery is the hub of a studio complex on the Welbeck Estate, 8 miles from Kings Clipstone, which also offers an excellent farm shop and a garden centre. Recommended
Patchings Art Centre, 14 miles South of Kings Clipstone is a complex of galleries and workshops offering frequent events and courses.
Sherwood Forest Art and Craft Centre near Edwinstowe is an attractive craft centre with much to see.

Aviation
Dukeries Gliding Club operates from near Tuxford, about 11 miles from Kings Clipstone.
The Flight Centre offers flying tuition from Gamston Airport, about 12 miles from Kings Clipstone.
Light Flight microlights and hang gliders are based at Farnsfield.
Newark Air Museum houses a collection of historic aircraft.
Phoenix Flying School is based at Netherthope Airfield near Worksop.

Bird Watching
Notts RSPB have a county-wide guide.

Cycling
Sustrans national cycle route 67 passes close to Kings Clipstone.

Equestrianism
Crow Hollow Cottage specialises in equestrian holidays and has an excellent activity guide.
Kirkfields Equestrian Centre at Blidworth offers tuition to all levels, hacking, livery and racehorse training.

Farm Parks
Sherwood Forest Farm Park is home to many exotic birds and has a tea room and miniature railway.
White Post Farm Centre has a large collection animals, reptiles and other attractions.

Golf
There are several fine golf courses close to Kings Clipstone:

• Worksop Golf Club, which has produced two Ryder Cup players, Maurice Bembridge and Lee Westwood as well as David Snell and up-and-coming Mark Foster, and Sherwood Forest Golf Club are traditional members' clubs rated in the top 100 golf courses in the UK. Both provide a very good test of golf.
• There are also several newer courses, mostly pay and play, including: Rufford Park Golf Club, which is the nearest, Ramsdale Park, College Pines, which is described as the home of all-year golf as it never closes, Oakmere Park, where Greg Owen and Oliver Wilson started as juniors, and Mansfield Woodhouse: a nine-hole municipal course ideal for beginners and occasional golfers.

Houses and Gardens
Clumber Park has an extensive and varied area of parkland, lake and woods.
Harlow Carr, the most northerly of the RHS gardens, is at Harrogate, 71 miles from Kings Clipstone.
Newstead Abbey was the home to Lord Byron and is set in beautiful grounds.
Rufford Country Park offers extensive gardens, lakes, a garden centre, art gallery and more.
Thoresby Park: has over 1000 acres of unspoilt countryside, an art and crafts gallery, mega maze and refreshments.

Hunting
Readyfield Bloodhounds is an independent pack based in Squires Lane - owned and run by farmers.

Industrial History
Clipstone Colliery headstocks are an unmissable landmark of the 1922 - 2003 era when coal was the economic driver of the area. It is not open to visitors.
Papplewick Pumping Station is an outstanding example Victorian architecture with two unique Watts rotative beam engines. It is in steam on Bank Holidays.

Leisure and Culture
Mansfield District Council has many facilities near Kings Clipstone.

Motor Sports
Adrenalin Jungle offers quad biking, dirt buggies and 4x4s for off-road fun. Paint ball too.
Amen Corner Karting is an established outdoor circuit at Rufford, about 3 miles from Kings Clipstone.
Donington Park, near East Midlands Airport, hosts major motorcycle and car racing.

Nottinghamshire Information
Visit Nottinghamshire offers much information about the county's rich and varied heritage.

Orienteering
The Nottinghamshire Orienteering Club holds events at Sherwood Pines and welcomes visitors

Performing Arts
Chesterfield's Pomegranate Theatre offers a wide range of professional and local amateur productions.
Derby's Assembly Rooms promotes a year round programme, including an orchestral and pop events.
Doncaster Civic Theatre presents popular amateur and professional productions.
Lakeside is the University of Nottingham’s public arts centre stages an eclectic programme.
Leicester has five theatres catering for a wide range of tastes.
Lincoln's Theatre Royal mainly offers family shows.
Newark's Palace Theatre stages a wide range of professional and amateur music and theatrical shows.
Nottingham Arts Theatre is Nottingham's community theatre.
The Nottingham Playhouse offers a varied programme.
Mansfield's Palace Theatre has been refurbished and presents a broad range of work.
Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford, is 91 miles from Kings Clipstone.
The Royal Centre includes Nottingham's Theatre Royal and the Royal Concert Hall.
Sheffield Theatres is a portal for events at the Crucible, Lyceum and Studio complex.
Southwell Minster, the Cathedral of Nottinghamshire, hosts many musical events.
Symphony Hall in Birmingham is a renowned concert hall about 75 miles from Kings Clipstone.

Pubs and Dining
Forest Lodge hotel, pub and restaurant in Edwinstowe offers good beers, snacks, rooms and fine dining.
Maid Marion Restaurant in Edwinstowe offers fine dining with a French influence.
The Dog and Duck is the only pub in Kings Clipstone. It has a good reputation for beers, fine dining and entertainment.
The Rose Cottage at Rufford offers good food and fine wines.

Robin Hood (Henry Gilbert's classic book "Robin Hood" is on-line here.)
The Bold Outlaw: Much historical and legendary information on the stories of Robin Hood.
The World Wide Robin Hood Society: Some useful information and Robin Hood merchandise.

Shooting
Cavendish Gun Club in Forest Town, offers clay shooting and tuition on alternate Sundays.

Swimming
South Forest Leisure Complex, about 2 miles from Kings Clipstone is home to Sherwood Swimming Club.

Vicar Water
Vicar Water Country Park in New Clipstone is on the Sustrans national route 67 and has good faciliies for walkers and anglers. PDF details here. The café/restaurant is run by The Rumbles Catering Project.

Visiting Sherwood Forest
The Forestry Commission runs Sherwood Forest and has help for walkers, ramblers and cyclists.
The Major Oak: About this famous tree that is a "major" attraction in the forest.
Ollerton and Surrounding Villages is an excellent information resource by the Ollerton and District Economic Forum.
Sherwood Forest Country Park has a visitor centre near Edwinstowe with a Robin Hood theme and walks.
The Sherwood Forest Trust has a very informative site covering the history, the Robin Hood legend and more.
Sherwood Pines has many walks and cycle tracks about a mile from Kings Clipstone and a popular Go Ape tree-top course.
The Tourist Information Office near Ollerton roundabout is open daily.

Walking
Creswell Crags offers walks based on this Iron Age heritage centre, 10 miles from Kings Clipstone.
Mansfield and Sherwood Ramblers welcome guests on walks along rights of way.
Nottingham Wayfarers' Rambling Club has many photos taken around Robin Hood way.
Notts CC has some good walkers' guides and a new on-line walkers' forum.
The Robin Hood Way Association promotes preservation of the Robin Hood Way for recreation.
Several local walks are shown here.