Clumber Park history and events

Clumber Park is one of the most visited country parks in the UK and plays an important role in the heritage of Nottinghamshire.

Situated in the northern-most part of broader Sherwood Forest, just south of Worksop, it was formerly part of the 100-mile forest, before it became a park in the early 18^th Century. The park boasts over 3,800 acres of glorious green land, as well as a man-made lake and the longest avenue of lime trees in Europe. If you’re into cycling, Clumber Park is a great place to go, as there are around 20 miles of cycle routes through beautiful woods, and other striking scenery. If you much prefer a relaxing walk, why not take a stroll around the 4-mile serpentine lake, and take in the magnificent views from the ornamental bridge.

There is a lot of history surrounding Clumber Park, from the fire, which destroyed part of the Duke of Newcastle’s mansion, to the construction of the chapel and the ornamental bridge. Today the park plays host to a number of events throughout the year, including the highly popular 10k road race, which takes place every year. The run has become so popular that entries now have to be booked before the date, and ticket numbers are limited.  The park’s team also work closely with local producers, who come together for a weekend to host the Clumber Park Food Fair. On this weekend, Clumber Park’s stable yard is turned into a market place, where visitors can buy and try the fresh produce that local businesses have to offer. 

If you’re particularly interested in the history of the park, then there’s opportunities to go on tours of the park’s chapel, and the site in which the mansion was originally built. You can also meet with a chapel steward to find out what they do to look after the old building.

For those of you green fingers, who are into your gardening, there are a number of all-day ‘flower-power’ workshops held at the park, which are run by the parks head gardener. These sessions will teach you how to grow, and look after your own herbaceous plants, as well as help you to make the right planting choices when it comes to choosing the right sites and soil. ‘Grow it, cook it, eat it’ sessions also regularly take place in the park’s walled garden kitchen. In these workshops participants will be shown how to grow their own produce and try some of the dishes that are made from produce grown in the walled garden kitchen.

If you’re just visiting the area, or you’re looking for a cosy evening away from home, the Clumber Park Hotel, situated on the edge of Sherwood Forest is the perfect place to go. Newly refurbished, the hotel can give you the relaxing experience you’ve been looking for, in a natural, and peaceful environment.

Whether you’re new to Nottinghamshire, just visiting or have lived here for years, Clumber Park is well worth a visit. If you’re looking to have a day jam-packed full of activities, or simply wanting to spend the day relaxing in the sun, Clumber Park can cater for everyone.