Days Out in Nottinghamshire - Rufford Abbey Country Park
A large 150 acre Country Park in the North of Nottinghamshire on the edge of Sherwood Forest.
There's plenty of flat open grass land for picnics and games. At the centre of Rufford Country Park are the ruins of a 12th century Cistercian monastery the 'basement' of which is now a replica of what was there originally (see pictures below). Around the buildings are gardens, meadows, a lake and lots of thickly forested woodland.
Scattered throughout the gardens are pieces of 'art' (see pictures), there's also a craft center with displays by local artists.
Warning - Rufford Park gets very busy on sunny weekends and school holidays, so if you have the option visit on a weekday.
A short, flat walk from all the buildings there's a large lake with lots of water fowl. A gravel path provides easy access all around the lake, with bird feeding areas and picnic tables.
At the far end of the lake there's an old mill building - now a shop. Near the mill building is 'Ford' or road through a stream - lots of splashing cars.
Rufford Country Park's main car parks are off the A614 - these are best if you are visiting the buildings, meadows or gardens. There is a second car park called 'Rufford Mill', this is off Rufford Lane.
This is much nearer to the lake, ford and old mill shop.
Features.
Lake, Gardens,
Craft Centre,
Woodland
Water FowlMonastery Ruin,
Cafes, Toilets
Car Park Free on Weekdays £3 on weekends and holidays
Photographs from Rufford Country Park, Nottinghamshire
A 'Wildflower Farm'. But it's not really a 'farm' in the normal sense, more a set of meadows and habitats all with slightly different conditions to encourage different wildflowers to grow.
Large gardens, parkland and lakes. With many different types of garden areas including - The Fern Garden, Rockery, Sub-Topical Garden, Spanish Garden and Japanese Garden.
Along the side of the River Trent just outside Nottingham. Includes a long rowing coarse, a fast flowing canoe slalom coarse and calmer practice lakes. It's free to enter.