Sherwood Pines Weekend Away

Описание: ⭐ Sherwood Pines Camping – Our Honest Review ⭐

This site has so much to offer, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for us.

The forest itself – absolutely stunning. This was the highlight of our stay by far. Being surrounded by trees, walking the trails, and soaking up nature was exactly what we came for. While we were here, a reenactment event was running which we thoroughly enjoyed, and the main play site near Go Ape was fantastic – we spent hours there and Bri loved every second. The café and visitor centre were also lovely, making the daytime experience in the forest really enjoyable.

The main visitor centre play are:
The castle-themed play structure has clearly been designed with adventure and accessibility at its heart. A gentle ramp leads all the way to the top of the main tower, ensuring that children of every ability can experience the thrill of reaching the heights.
Linking the two towers is a wobbly clatter bridge – wide enough for wheelchairs – which combines inclusivity with a sense of excitement as it shifts and moves beneath wheels or feet.
For those looking for more of a challenge, one tower features a climbing tree element, giving children the chance to clamber up the outside in true adventurer style.
At ground level though, there’s plenty to discover too: a secret den, tunnel, kitchen, and dungeon, all designed with tactile and high-contrast features to enhance sensory play for children with reduced vision.

The fun doesn’t stop there. A tube slide, balance trail, and trebuchet swing add even more ways to move up, down, and around. With so many routes to explore and challenges to try, the play never has to end—it simply takes a new direction.

The campsite itself – sadly, this was where things fell short for us. It was extremely busy, and with many not adhering to the rules, it made for a disappointing experience. Despite the “no electric bikes/scooters” rule, Bri was nearly run over by teens racing across the site. Fires on the ground were also clearly not allowed, yet on Luke’s evening walk with Fraser he spotted at least four. It’s disheartening when rules are put in place for everyone’s safety and comfort, but some simply ignore them.

Play area – The on-site park was fantastic… when it could actually be used. Evenings were overcrowded, with teenagers kicking balls off equipment, making it unsafe and not much fun for younger children. Bri still enjoyed a few goes on the slide and a run on the grass, but it wasn’t the relaxing playtime we’d hoped for.

campsite Facilities – Clean, but very basic compared to other sites we’ve stayed on.

Food on-site – A chip van visited on Saturday night which sounded like a great treat. Unfortunately, after queuing for over an hour, the food itself was disappointing.

Noise – If you’re looking for peace and quiet, this may not be the right site. We’ve stayed at many child-friendly campsites before, but this was by far the noisiest. Kids will always make noise (and that’s fine!), but adults blaring music late into the night was what really made it difficult.

✨ A surprise to our weekend stay at Sherwood Pines was stumbling across the incredible Regia Anglorum re-enactment!
Over the weekend of the 27th & 28th September, the forest was transported back to the year 867 AD, when the Viking Great Heathen Army faced the armies of Wessex and Mercia near Nottingham.
Each day followed a brilliant format:
⚔️ Morning: Warrior training in the arena
⚔️ Afternoon: Full battle re-enactments
🏕️ All day: Explore the living history camp, chat with experts, and see demonstrations of everyday life from over a millennium ago.
The best part? It’s a free event (just the usual Sherwood Pines parking charges apply).

💡 Brianna absolutely loved getting involved in the traditional games… and yes, she WON! 🎉

✨ In summary – The forest and nature here are incredible, and there’s so much to explore and enjoy during the day. For us, though, it was the campsite experience that let it down. It’s clear this site is loved by many, but sadly it just wasn’t the right fit for us.