Fans of English folklore heed this well, for it was at Fountain Dale where the first meeting of Robin Hood and Friar Tuck took place. Legend goes that they fought at the moat, the remains of which are sadly all but gone.

Interestingly, Sir Walter Scott wrote his famous novel Ivanhoe here. The novel is partly to thank for the modern perception of many of the principal characters of Robin Hood folklore, including the Prince of Thieves himself.

Damian

April 4, 2021

Hiking

nice spot for bird watchers - lots of waterfowl

Walk The Walk 🌳

December 24, 2022

Hiking

CLAIMED TO BE THE LEGENDARY location where Robin Hood met the feisty Friar Tuck in the famous folktale, the overgrown remains of a 12th-century moat, lodge, and holy well complex persist in this soggy corner of Sherwood Forest.

Fountain Dale’s ancient moat is an impressive waterlogged ditch, 40 feet wide, enclosing what was once a large rectangular artificial island. The feature dates to at least 1251, when the moated island was the site of a hunting lodge, the vestiges of which remain hidden beneath centuries of mud and undergrowth.

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Nearby routes

Best routes near Fountain Dale Ponds

4.7

(25)

hikers

1. Thieves Wood & Harlow Wood loop

7.73km

02:01

60m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.8

(6)

hikers

2. Newstead Abbey – Thieves Wood loop from Mansfield

28.1km

07:33

330m

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Hard

5.0

(7)

hikers

3. The Druid Stone – Fountain Dale Ponds loop from Lindhurst CP

10.1km

02:43

120m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Moderate

Details

Informations

Elevation 120 m

Weather

Today

Friday 20 March

12°C

5°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

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Take Me There

Location: Lindhurst, Newark And Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England, United Kingdom

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Fountain Dale Ponds

1. Thieves Wood & Harlow Wood loop

2. Newstead Abbey – Thieves Wood loop from Mansfield

3. The Druid Stone – Fountain Dale Ponds loop from Lindhurst CP

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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