Cheque Centre

Roche Abbey

Stone · 7.5 miles

Set in the shallow valley of Maltby Beck near the town of Stone, the ruins of Roche Abbey present a substantial archaeological site overseen by English Heritage. Visitors can walk among the surviving stone walls of the north and south transepts, the outline of the former Norman-Gothic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and the foundations that hint at the layout of the medieval monastic complex. The setting, once at the northern edge of the historic Sherwood Forest, retains the atmosphere of the Cistercian “White Monks” settlement, and the site remains a scheduled monument and a Grade II* listed landscape within the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Admission is subject to a charge and wheelchair access is limited. Founded in 1147 by Richard de Busli and Richard FitzTurgis, the abbey grew to accommodate a community of roughly 175 monks and lay brothers before the Dissolution of the Monasteries reduced it to ruin in 1538. After the suppression, much of the stone, lead and timber was stripped, leaving the remaining walls that dominate the present landscape. The abbey’s ownership passed through several families, ultimately reaching the Earl of Cumberland at the time of dissolution. Today, English Heritage maintains the site, and a diocesan pilgrimage still takes place on Trinity Sunday, reflecting the abbey’s lingering religious significance.

Tickhill Castle

Tickhill · 8.7 miles

Dominating the landscape of Tickhill in South Yorkshire, the ruins of Tickhill Castle reflect a series of medieval power struggles. Originally erected as the 11th-century motte-and-bailey known as Blythe Castle by Roger de Busli, the site later received a stone curtain wall after a 1102 siege and an eleven-sided keep under Henry II, completed in 1192 alongside a stone bridge and chapel. Its strategic position on the Nottinghamshire–Yorkshire border made it a focal point during the reign of King John, serving alongside Windsor Castle as a principal stronghold against potential French invasion. Throughout the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the castle changed hands, witnessing sieges in 1194, 1321 and a brief imprisonment of Joanna of Flanders in 1343. After falling into disrepair by the mid-sixteenth century, Sir Ralph Hansby repaired the structure in the early seventeenth century. The site remained loyal to the crown during the English Civil War, surrendering in July 1644 and being deliberately razed in 1648. The later Hansby house incorporated the surviving Norman gatehouse and parts of the former hall, while the former bailey now forms part of the surrounding gardens. Today the castle is a private residence owned by the Duchy of Lancaster; the monument is opened to the public only on the second Sunday of June, between 14:00 and 16:00. Wheelchair access is not available, and no additional visitor facilities are recorded.

Maltby Buttercross

Maltby · 8.7 miles

Barlborough Country Park

Barlborough · 6.2 miles

Sports fields and playground with nature reserve.

Forest Holidays Sherwood Forest

Clipstone · 9.3 miles

This site contains eco-sensitive log cabins with hot tubs and a Forest Retreat bar, restaurant. cafe and shop. Activities available include Forest Ranger and nature based activities, archery, bike hire and pottery painting.

Maun Valley Nature Reserve

Forest Town · 11 miles

Wildlife reserve established alongside the river Maun.