Sherwood Pines Bike Park

The forest trails at Sherwood Pines are properly built for bikes, not bodged together with whatever fell off a lorry. You'll find jumps, berms, and technical sections winding through actual woodland - the kind where you can smell the pines and hear something other than traffic. It's genuinely well-maintained, which matters when you're doing something that could end badly.

Mountain bikers will have the most fun here, whether you're learning to jump or you've been doing this for years. The trails cater to different abilities, so you're not stuck watching your mate zoom off while you're still learning to lean. Kids aged ten and up will enjoy it; younger ones might find themselves pushing bikes uphill more than riding them down.

Timing matters. Weekdays are quieter, which you'll appreciate when you're concentrating on a tricky section. Weekends fill up fast with families from Mansfield and beyond. Allow at least two hours, probably three if you're taking it steady and stopping to catch your breath.

It works brilliantly as part of a Sherwood Forest break. If you're staying at Sherwood Pines Camping - which has decent reviews - you're basically on the doorstep. Center Parcs Sherwood Forest is 2.5 miles away if you want something more cushioned, though you'll pay for that privilege. The forest itself has the whole Robin Hood thing going on, which some find cliché and others love. Either way, if your gang likes bikes and trees, this is worth the detour from Mansfield.