Newark and Sherwood

Major Oak morning, Minster afternoon over three days in Sherwood

Three days cover Newark and Sherwood. Day one walks the half mile from the Sherwood Forest visitor centre to the Major Oak, with Rufford Abbey in the afternoon. Day two explores Newark's castle and the National Civil War Centre. Day three takes bus 28 to Southwell Workhouse, then Southwell Minster and the Archbishop's Palace.

Day one, Sherwood. Arrive early at the visitor centre outside Edwinstowe, before the family groups, and walk the half mile to the Major Oak. Carry on into the reserve's paths among the veteran oaks, then lunch in the village and look into St Mary's Church, which dates from 1185. In the afternoon drive about 3 miles south to Rufford Abbey for the Cistercian ruins and the park.

Day two, Newark. Start in the Market Place, then cross to the castle on the river. The National Civil War Centre on Appletongate explains the town's three sieges, and the Queen's Sconce earthwork survives in Sconce Hills park. End with a drink at the Castle Barge, the floating pub at Town Wharf.

Day three, Southwell. Take bus 28 out to the Workhouse, then into Southwell for the Minster and the Archbishop's Palace with its restored State Chamber. Walk part of the Southwell Trail before heading back.

From Newark, Nottingham makes an easy extra day by train or bus 90.

Bramley crumble, fish suppers and Kirk Gate pubs

Newark and Sherwood's own food is the Bramley apple, grown from a pip sown in Southwell in 1809 and baked into crumbles and pies in autumn. Newark has the widest choice, with Kirk Gate pubs such as the Old Kings Arms, Asian restaurants on Stodman Street and Kirk Gate, and markets most days of the week.

Southwell's own contribution to English cooking is the Bramley apple. The first tree grew from a pip sown there in 1809, and the sharp, fluffy cooker is what turns up baked in a Bramley apple crumble or pie across the district's pubs in autumn.

Newark has the widest choice. Kirk Gate is the old drinking street, with the Old Kings Arms and the Old Post Office, and The Navigation on Mill Gate sits by the river with live music. Restaurants cover Asian kitchens well: Asha on Stodman Street for tandoori, New King Wah on Kirk Gate for Cantonese and Koinonia on St Mark's Lane for South Indian. The market runs on Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, and from April to December a specialty food market fills the square on the first Friday of the month.

Around the forest the choice is smaller. Edwinstowe has a fish and chip shop on the High Street, Robin Hood Plaice, plus takeaways, and there are cafes at the visitor centre, Rufford and Clumber. The Beck at Caunton, about 5 miles from Newark, is a reliable all-day stop if you are driving between the towns.

Robin Hood Festival weekends and the Newark Showground year

The Robin Hood Festival fills Sherwood Forest across several August weekends, so arrive before 10am on festival days. Newark Showground hosts the Nottinghamshire County Show in mid-May, antiques fairs roughly monthly and Truckfest in late September. Southwell's music festival plays in the Minster in late August, and York is a direct train north.

August belongs to the outlaw. The Robin Hood Festival fills Sherwood Forest across several August weekends, with costumed shows and medieval camps around the visitor centre, and an evening spectacular that sells out quickly. Arrive by the first bus or before 10am on festival days.

The rest of the calendar runs through Newark Showground. The Nottinghamshire County Show comes in mid-May, the large International Antiques and Collectors Fairs return roughly monthly, and Truckfest Original arrives in late September. Southwell has its own music festival in the Minster in late August, and the Gate to Southwell roots festival plays at Kirklington in early summer.

For a longer tour, the district sits between two other historic cities: York is a direct LNER ride north of Newark Northgate, and Leicester lies an hour or so south-west by road.