周辺のスポット/アトラクション・トップ20

The first mention of Farnsfield emerges in 956AD in a document in which King Edwy of Northumbria gave the Danish Archbishop of York, Oscytel, the manor of Southwell, which included the farmstead of Farnsfield. Farnsfield was a small community of farmsteads scraping a living from agriculture in a clearing at the edge of Sherwood Forest. By 1520 Farnsfield was the responsibility of Southwell Minster under the Archbishop of York, Cardinal Wolsey. Most people were farmers and poor land, bad weather, disease and starvation were constant hazards. By the 1600s more specialised trades were developing in Farnsfield including bakers, tailors and shoemakers. By the late 1700s sheep rearing was the main source of income from outside.

The church dates from the 15th century but was rebuilt between 1859 and 1860 by Thomas Chambers Hine and Robert Evans following a fire. Only a fragment of the tower from the 15th-century building survives.

The earliest church on the site is believed to have been founded in 627 by Paulinus, the first Archbishop of York, when he visited the area while baptising believers in the River Trent. The legend is commemorated in the Minster's baptistry window. In 956 King Eadwig gave land in Southwell to Oskytel, Archbishop of York, on which a minster church was established. The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded the Southwell manor in great detail. The Norman reconstruction of the church began in 1108, probably as a rebuilding of the Anglo-Saxon church, starting at the east end so that the high altar could be used as soon as possible and the Saxon building was dismantled as work progressed. Many stones from this earlier Anglo-Saxon church were reused in the construction. The church was originally attached to the Archbishop of York's Palace which stood next door and is now ruined.

Features now restored in the middle of the wood, including small gap-jumps with chicken line, flowing great (April 2022).

Unfortunately the Forestry Commission have been into Watchwood and removed all the man-made features (jumps) from the downhill runs. However the trails are still rideable & fun, plenty of berms still in place. (July 2021)

Lovely location on the Trent. Lots of easy, flat, traffic-free roads around here. Regularly use this as a lunch stop on rides in the southern half of the Vale of Belvoir. There is an easy 30 mile loop to Newark and back, going through quiet lanes up one side of the Trent and back down the other. I have used the riverside Unicorn pub as an overnight base for cycle-touring in this area.

Very nice village next to the Trent. Easily accessed by the cycle way. Suitable for all riders.

A lovely riverside village with a pub and a nice pier - ideal for taking a good photo of your machine!!

well worth a visit

A pretty red-brick village that boasts a couple of pubs, a small Co-op and a village bakery, if you are in need refreshment or supplies. To the north is the former Southwell to Mansfield railway line, which has since been converted into the Southwell Trail for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. To the south is a memorial to a Halifax bomber that crashed here in 1944, killing all on board.

Absolutely worth the slog is the downhill charge into Southwell. This climb is featured in Simon Warren’s greatest climbs series. It’s tough but doable.

Southwell has a number of interesting historic buildings, such as the old coaching inn of the Saracen's Head and Burgage Manor, vacation spot for Lord Byron. Though the jewel in Southwell's crown is undoubtedly St Mary's Minster. One of the smallest cathedrals in the country, it is nonetheless one of the most interesting from an architectural perspective.

@Henry - The original Watchwood Berms were damaged, but now there are currently two new routes "Hanah" & "No Dig No Ride" as well as "Potato Gallery, Jim'll Fix It, Lumberjack Alley, Who's the Daddy, Drop in Boost". There are two straight trails to bring you back up from the bottom to the top again. The start at the concrete Trig point has the big drop in it.

Depends which way your travelling. Its labled as 12% so its a sharp climb or a rapid decent. the decent has to be treated with respect as there is a nasty corner to catch you out mid drop. The hill is covered by a tree canopy than can leave the surface greasy even on a dry day. The road surface has been deteriorating for some time, so be careful. on the way up there is a gentle begining, then it rises rapidly with the aforementioned bend in the middle. not that long but the gentle begining may have taken a little more out of you than you expected. Beware the impatient drivers who are tempted to try and pass and also get caught by the bend if the road is new to them. Nice roll into Southwell makes it worth the effort though.

It's a good ride and a hard hill to test your self on

Having done both from opposite directions, first time by accident and the second because of forgetfulness, I can confirm that they not for the faint hearted. I would also add two stretches l did Saturday, the road from Blidworth to the A60 at Ravenshead

Very cheeky hill. 12% gradient. The ride off the top is worth the effort.

We only had time for a couple of runs but my 9-year Daughter loved it, here is her review: "It was very fun, we started off from the car park, then we cycled up a gravel hill and turned into the first downhill descent. There was a lot of berms and which were rapid. Its was really fast and quick, there are a lot of bumpy tree roots to look out for. I was on a cx bike, I would defiantly use a mountain bike if you have one. Well worth coming to ride, I know I will be back! "

Sadly trails have been removed. Trees cut and big machine tyre marks have left a devastated woods. My 7 yrs son was very disappointed to see his favourite mtb trails destroyed. We don't know whether they were legal or not but the damage caused now it's a lot worse.

Great ride, came here for the first time today and quite impressed, the jumps are a bit steep for beginners but very manageable, would recommend all skill levels coming and giving it a try