Ashfield

There's Plenty to See and Do in Ashfield 

You’ll find plenty of open spaces, heritage trails and nature reserves here. Award winning Portland Park holds Green Flag status and parts of the woodland are thought to date back to 1600. The park was donated to residents by the Duke of Portland. Kings Mill Reservoir borders Ashfield and Mansfield and is home to a spectacular wildfowl sanctuary. The Timberland Trail starts here and there's an access point for the Maun Valley Trail. The Teversal and Pleasley Pits Trails are also well known. In total, there are 12 trails to explore in the area - from the one mile Carnarvon Stroll to a 10 mile running trail.

Old Teversal is one of the most unspoilt villages in Nottinghamshire. It has connections with DH Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover as well as Lord Carnarvon of Tutankhamun fame. The Hidden Valleys is a little known gem - a rolling expanse of countryside with quaint villages dotted throughout. Along the way uncover Ashfield’s impressive heritage at Newstead, the Royal Horticultural Society recommended Felley Priory Gardens and Papplewick in the neighbouring district of Gedling - home to one of Britain’s finest Victorian pumping stations.

Literary buffs can follow the life of Byron. From his early years in the ancestral home at nearby Newstead Abbey to his final resting place at St Mary Magdalene’s Church in Hucknall. Byron’s first love Mary Anne Charworth lived at Annesley Hall and according to legend Byron’s ghost haunts its grounds. Visit during the International Byron Festival in June or July and soak up the atmosphere.

For a look into Hucknall’s colourful past, take a seasonal bus tour. In two and a half hours, you'll see many sites of historical importance, including Bestwood Colliery Winding Engine, Rolls Royce and the Market Place. The free tours are available from June to September. If you visit in the summer, don't miss the Ashfield Show. A hugely popular event for families, it takes place every August at Sutton Lawn, Sutton-in-Ashfield.

Did you know...?

At 205 metres above sea level Silverhill Wood is the highest point in Nottinghamshire. On the site of a former colliery it's marked with a miner’s statue and commemorative plaque.