Staying at Sherwood Pines campsite, Sherwood Forest

When we came across Sherwood Pines campsite we booked in immediately, as we were drawn to the photos of towering pine trees, picturesque walking routes and the fact it’s just a stone’s throw from the Sherwood Forest. We’ve stayed at this site multiple times, and it’s our go-to for a peaceful forest stay in our converted VW Transporter. Here’s what you need to know when booking your stay at Sherwood Pines:

Location

Situated in Kings Clipstone, just an hour’s drive from Sheffield and close to the famous Sherwood Forest, Sherwood Pines is owned by Camping in the Forest and is the company’s flagship site. There are over 160 pitches across 20 acres of beautiful forest woodland, with hard-standing and grass pitches, and serviced pitches with water and an electric hook-up. The campsite is open all year round, and backs onto a Forestry Commission site which makes it an idyllic spot for getting out in nature! In just a few minutes, you can walk from your pitch into the Forest and enjoy walking routes, bike trails, play areas and organised events like the weekly Park Run. The site is modern and spacious, with everything you’ll need for a comfortable stay. Check out our full video tour to explore the site with us!

Arrival and choosing a pitch

The campsite is well sign-posted from the road, with a large Forestry Commission sign making sure you can’t miss the turning! The road approaching the campsite winds through tall pine trees for a few minutes, away from the main road, so once you arrive on-site it feels like you’re truly in the middle of nowhere in the peaceful forest. Camping signs direct you to the reception building, where you’ll check in and meet a member of staff who will cycle alongside you to help you find your perfect pitch. You’re given the code for the entrance barriers that you’ll need to put in upon your return if you leave the site for the day.

The staff member cycling with you leads you down the short road, past the staff pitches, to the campsite. It all feels new and fresh – the roads and pathways across the site are well-maintained, and the tall pine trees surrounding the site provide a breath-taking backdrop from all pitches. For our first stay at Sherwood Pines, staff member Keith showed us the facilities block (more on that below), explained where the chemical disposal and fresh water points are situated, and gave us some tips for where to pitch.

Each time we stay we like to choose a hard standing pitch that backs onto the forest for easy access straight into the forest via one of the footpaths. Some hard standing pitches along the East side of the site have a line of trees that separate you from the grass pitches in the centre of the site, which might be preferable during busier Summer periods. You might favour pitching closer to the facilities, but as the block is central to the site you’ll only have a short walk no matter where you pitch.

To the West there are serviced pitches that have a slightly elevated position on the site, and are just along from the relatively new glamping pods and geodome. Hidden in the trees on the East side you’ll spot the two larger family glamping pods, as well as the narrow serviced pitches that are suitable for smaller outfits. In the centre of the site you’ll find grass pitches, and there are more grass pitches on the North West side of the site. Having previously pitched in the North part of the site, you’ll notice a little traffic noise as it’s closer to the main road here – so we prefer to pitch up somewhere along the South side closer to the forest.

Check out our full video tour of the site:

Site facilities

Though there is only one facilities block, the Sherwood Pines facilities are truly outstanding and they’ve really thought of every visitor’s needs. On one end of the block, you’ll find a dog wash room to clean off your four-legged friend after muddy walks in the forest, complete with a shower/bath for your dog and entryway with a bench for placing your belongings and space for drying off afterwards.

Down one side of the building you’ll find the men’s toilets, urinals and showers. There are two rooms – at off-peak times one is always closed so that when it’s time for cleaning, the staff can close it off completely and open up another, meaning you’ll never have to wait for staff to finish cleaning. Also on this side of the building is the laundry room where you can pay to pop your clothing in the washer or dryer, and there’s an ironing board for those who like to have crease-free clothing! The dish-washing area can be accessed from either side of the building as it’s a long, thin room, with 8 sinks available with both cold and hot water. For visitors with accessibility needs or those with children, 2 sinks are lower down than the others for easier access.

Along the other side of the building, the women’s toilets and showers have the same set up as the men’s in that one room is always closed, so that when it’s time to close the bathroom for cleaning, the room on the other side can be opened up for uninterrupted use. The showers are the push-button kind, and have always been piping hot when we’ve stayed at the site, plus each cubicle has 5 hooks for ample space to hang your belongings. The dish-washing room is also accessible from this side, and there is a bin at either end in case you need to dispose of any food bits before you wash up.

A fantastic addition to the facilities block, considering the campsite’s proximity to outdoor activities, is the Backpacker room. This area contains tall lockers with built-in heaters, where visitors can hang their damp clothes to dry. You simply pop £1 in the locker, lock the door and take the key, so you can return at your leisure later in the day once your clothes are dry. These lockers work like those at swimming pools, or a supermarket trolley – you receive the pound back once you’ve placed the key back in the lock. It’s only really suitable for damp clothes and not heavily soaked clothes but this service, unlike the dryer in the laundry room, is completely free.

All rooms in the facilities block have always been completely spotless during each of our stays here, and the staff really keep on top of the cleaning. Outside the block, there is a motorhome service point with a grey waste disposal area (one of the long, grid ones – not a teeny manhole cover where you have to line up perfectly!) as well as general waste and mixed recycling bins, and a fresh water tap. Behind the tap, in its own fenced area, is a bike servicing point complete with a dozen tools for those needing to tend to their bicycles before heading off on one of the many cycle routes through the forest. There’s also a bike wash point, which we’re sure is always appreciated by cyclists after a muddy bike ride along the trails at Sherwood Pines.

There are a couple of chemical disposal points at either end of the campsite, meaning no matter where you pitch up it’s not too far to walk with your waste in tow. For visitors with four-legged friends, dog poo bins are dotted around the edge of the site. There is decent Wi-Fi across the campsite, much better than usual intermittent campsite Wi-Fi, in that it was actually possible to load websites on the Sherwood Pines Wi-Fi! While the pitches are surrounded by dense forest, the site itself is in an open circle so the signal can actually reach your outfit.

The site is on a slight slope, so you may need to use levelling ramps depending on where you pitch. Once you’re parked up, you can relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, plus the abundance of wildlife all around! During our stays at Sherwood Pines, we’ve loved seeing squirrels, rabbits and birds playing amongst the trees right next to our windows! You may even spot a resident buzzard swooping down from higher boughs, as well as smaller birds like blue tits and blackbirds, and when the site is silent at nighttime you’ll be able hear an owl or two.

Atmosphere

As the road leading up to the campsite winds through the forest, away from the main road, you’ll find it becomes increasingly peaceful and as such you won’t hear any traffic noise as you walk around the site. During our off-peak stays, the site has been incredibly quiet with campers spaced out across the site so we barely hear any sounds from any of the other visitors! It’s especially quiet during the week, and Sherwood Pines even offers a discount for those choosing to stay mid week.

If you are looking to stay over a weekend, bear in mind that the site does get busier with visitors looking to make the most of being so close to activities in the forest at Sherwood Pines next door. There’s a plethora of cycling, walking and running routes, plus a Go Ape course and Gruffalo trail for little ones, and a weekly Park Run every Saturday – find more about Sherwood Pines below. The campsite itself is also well-equipped for groups with children, with a play area on site and ample space for little ones to enjoy exploring the woodland, as well as family glamping pods available for those without a campervan or motorhome.

With such a range of activities catering to everyone, it’s not surprising that the campsite becomes noticeably busier on weekends. If we happen to stay on a weekend, we are used to seeing a steady stream of traffic from check-in time at 1pm on Friday afternoon as large groups of new guests arrive on site. You will notice a marked difference in the atmosphere on site if you stay during the week versus the weekend.

If you’re looking to enjoy true tranquility in a forest setting, we’d recommend booking your stay during the week if possible to avoid the influx of weekend visitors.

Tips for your stay

A few things to know to help you make the most of your stay:

• Check for offers online. Sherwood Pines often provides discount codes or seasonal offers on their website when you choose to book your stay directly with them. You’ll find great deals like 10% off midweek touring stays all year round, or seasonal 25% off discounts for touring and glamping stays during off peak times. It’s always worth checking out their offers page before you book to see if there is an applicable discount available for your dates!
• Pick up a loyalty card. For every 2+ night stay at any Forestry England camping site, visitors are given a Silver loyalty card and will collect a stamp for their stay. Collect 2 stamps on this card and you’ll receive a free night to use at any of the Forestry England campsites! You’ll also receive a Gold loyalty card to complete with more stamps, and then a Platinum loyalty card. If you manage to collect all the stamps on each card within a year, you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a camping item – the most recent winner received a portable gas barbecue worth £125! Even if you don’t make it all the way to a Platinum card, after 2 stays your stamps on your Silver card will provide you with a free night in the forest – so you can take the opportunity to explore some of Sherwood Pines’ gorgeous sister sites.
• Get out in the forest. This should go without saying, but it’s well worth taking advantage of free access to the Sherwood Pines Forestry Commission site during your stay at the campsite. At the time of writing, 3+ hours of parking on site costs £12.50 – by no means an extortionate fee – but all the same, it’s worth getting out onto the beautiful forest site as often as you can to truly make the most of your included access. You can even hire bikes from the entrance to save you packing your own, and see even more of the ample winding woodland trails.

Visiting Sherwood Pines Forestry Commission site

As we’ve mentioned, Sherwood Pines campsite backs onto a Forestry Commission site. Sherwood Pines is the largest park in the East Midlands of England at 3,300 acres, with easy-to-follow walking routes sprawling through the forest for miles. (You can follow one of our favourite walking routes here!) During our stays here we love to head out along the picturesque 5km and 10km running routes, as well as completing the Sherwood Pines Park Run on Saturdays – a 5km group run held every Saturday morning from the visitor centre.

For those who prefer two-wheeled adventures, there’s bike hire available so visitors can ride the many, many cycle routes that wind through the forest without having to bring their own bike. For something a little different, there’s a Go Ape high-wire course for a fun activity high up in the trees, or a disc golf course that winds through the woods. The further you wander from the entrance the quieter the forest becomes, and you can explore the rich woodland at your leisure. The 7.2km Ranger’s Path offers a picturesque less-travelled path away from the crowds and is the longest walking trail at Sherwood Pines. The terrain becomes a little more rugged in places so it may not be suitable for everyone, but this does mean the path is quieter and you’ll enjoy a tranquil stroll in nature.

We always see lots of four-legged friends in the forest as dogs are allowed to walk off-lead here, as long as they are kept under close control. There are play areas for little ones too, and we admit we’ve had a go on the climbing ones ourselves – you’re definitely never too old for play time! On the weekend these areas are busy with families and children completing the Gruffalo trail, which involves hunting for carved wooden figures in the woods. There’s a sweet cabin cafe too, for when you need to take the weight off your feet after all the walking, running, cycling and playing in the forest!

While you’re in the area

There are a number of other places to visit in the surrounding area during your stay at Sherwood Pines:

Clumber Park. Just 20 minutes away from the campsite is this gorgeous National Trust site, where you can enjoy a gentle stroll through some of its 3,800 acres of picturesque parkland. The highlights of the Park for us are viewing the Ornamental Bridge – a Grade II listed bridge built between 1763-1770, where we stood to watch swans and goslings glide along the lake – and the walled kitchen garden. The stunning jewel in the crown of the garden is the greenhouse. During our first visit it was filled with daffodils, hydrangeas and cherry blossom, the scent of which hit us like a burst of fresh Spring air as we entered. As with every National Trust place we visit, the park is beautifully maintained and we’d highly recommend taking a walk here, followed by a cuppa in the cafe.

Creswell Crags. A 22 minute drive from the campsite, this is an archaeological museum in a limestone gorge, caves and fissures, with prehistoric tools and art.

The Major Oak. A short 10 minute drive away from Sherwood Pines, you’ll find a famous tree deep in the Sherwood Forest. According to local folklore, this enormous hollow oak was used as a shelter by the legendary Robin Hood and his merry men, and as such the Oak attracts around 350,000 visitors per year. There are four walking trails here, from the 30 minute Giants Trail which takes you on a circular walk from the visitor centre to the Major Oak and back, to the 2 and a half hour Wildwood Trail that we chose to take, so we could admire the wildlife habitats, plethora of twisted, ancient trees and enjoy the tranquility of the forest. The visitor centre has a gift shop as well as a small but modern cafe for those needing to take the weight of their feet after exploring!

Rufford Abbey. A 10 minute drive from the campsite. A country estate that was originally a Cistercian abbey, which was converted to a country house in the 16th century after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Hardwick Hall. A 35 minute drive from the campsite, and another gorgeous National Trust place to visit. This architecturally significant country house from the Elizabethan era is filled with fine furnishings and significant tapestries, including the famous Gideon Tapestries – the largest set to survive in Britain. Walking the grand hallways here, admiring the astonishingly large tapestries, is breath-taking and well worth a visit. Fans of the Harry Potter films will recognise the exterior of the Hall, which was used as Malfoy Manor in the films! The gardens around the Hall feature a herb garden, orchards, and flower beds providing a changing colour backdrop depending on the seasons, and the wider estate offers views of rolling hills and the Grade I listed parkland. After taking in all the amazing sights here, we like to reward ourselves with a hot drink and sweet treat in the converted barn cafe.

Sherwood Forest Arts and Craft Centre. A 10 minute drive from the campsite. An atrium and courtyard situated opposite the visitor centre for the Major Oak, the building was once a coach house and stables of the former Edwinstowe Hall. Nowadays, it is home to a variety of craftspeople selling every form of handcrafted art, from candles, soap and jewellery to paintings, chocolate and fossils! Special events run throughout the year with activities for all the family.

There is so much on offer at Sherwood Pines camping, it really goes beyond the standard of what we’ve come to expect when we pitch up at a campsite. Aside from sparkling facilities and well-maintained pitches, the location of the campsite makes it perfect for exploring the Sherwood Forest, nearby National Trust places and local attractions. We love returning to Sherwood Pines to pitch up in peace, and explore the stunning surrounding area. Find out more about Sherwood Pines via their website.