Runners' Retreat: Trail Running at Sherwood Pines, Evenings at the Cabin
A good running weekend needs two things: miles worth running, and somewhere cozy to come back to. From Inkersall Cabins, the edge of Sherwood Pines — the largest forest open to the public in the East Midlands — is about five minutes' walk from the door, so you can spend the day on the trails and be home before the light goes, with no car park to pay for in between.
Out of the Door and Into the Forest
The way in from the cabins is off-road, on tracks and forest paths rather than public roads, and joins the forest's trail network directly — the same way in as our cycling guests. Inside the forest it's a mix of wide forest roads, which stay firm underfoot, and narrower trails that are softer and can get muddy after rain, so trail shoes are worth packing from autumn onwards.
Leave the mountain bike singletrack to the riders — it's built for bikes moving at speed — and stick to the forest roads and waymarked routes. Forestry England's 5k (turquoise markers) and 10k (purple markers) running routes both start by the visitor centre; the 10k adds a loop past Robin Hood's Whetstone through the southern side of the forest. It's a working forest, so follow any diversion signs around forestry work, and carry gel wrappers home — there are no bins on site.
Deer are commonly seen on the open ground around Sherwood Pines, particularly early morning — and sometimes from the cabin itself.
Our Komoot Collection
We've put the loops we'd point runners towards into one Komoot collection. It's the easiest way to sample the forest without second-guessing every junction — open it before you set off and you'll have the route on your phone.
Saturday Morning: Parkrun at the Pines
Sherwood Pines parkrun is a free, timed 5k every Saturday at 9am. Register once online before your first run and bring a printed barcode — no barcode, no time. It's one lap: downhill to start between tall trees, rolling in the middle, and a final climb under beech and chestnut to finish. When Forestry England picked its top ten forest parkruns in February 2026, Sherwood Pines was number one on the list.
The visitor centre is a 40-minute walk from the cabins, so jogging over through the forest makes a ready-made warm-up — just leave in good time. Afterwards the volunteers head to the café for coffee every week, and visitors are welcome to join them.
Refuelling at the Visitor Centre
Whether it's after parkrun or halfway round a longer run, the visitor centre is the natural place to stop. Sherwood Pines Café is open seven days a week and serves proper refuelling food: a Full English or a lighter breakfast, home-made cakes that change daily, paninis and jacket potatoes at lunch, and hot drinks. The visitor centre itself, with toilets, is open 9am to 4pm. Run with a card or some cash, then choose your way home — straight back to the cabin, or round one of the waymarked loops first.
Evenings Back at the Cabin
Running is only half of a runners' retreat; the other half is the evening. Wrangler's Den has a log burner (firewood can be added to your booking), a walk-in shower and a heated towel rail that earns its keep after a wet run. The Shepherd's Hut is heated and cozy, and both have a fire pit outside and a kitchen for a proper post-run dinner.
In winter the light goes by late afternoon, which suits this kind of stay: run in the morning, be home before dark, have the fire going by teatime. Check-in is from 4pm and there's a two-night minimum, which fits a runner's weekend neatly — arrive Friday, parkrun on Saturday, and an easy loop on Sunday morning before the 11am checkout.
A Flatter Run: The Southwell Trail
For a flat, steady run on another day, the Southwell Trail follows a former railway line for 7.5 miles between Bilsthorpe and Southwell. We'd park at the Southwell end, off Station Road, run out towards Kirklington and back, and finish at The Final Whistle right by the car park — a railway-themed real-ale pub and Nottinghamshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2025, serving pork pies and cheese boards rather than full meals. It opens at midday, so time the run to finish after twelve.
Where We'd Eat
Our pick for a running weekend is The Rustic Crust, a Neapolitan-style pizzeria on Main Street in Farnsfield, under ten minutes' drive from the cabins. Pre-order a takeaway online, choosing a collection slot as you order, and eat it back at the cabin with your feet up — Friday-night pizza is as good a run-up to parkrun as any. Order early, as takeaway pauses when they're busy, and park at the public car park on Parfitt Drive, five minutes' walk away; the pizzeria has no car park of its own. Prefer to eat out? Book a table inside.
Sherwood Pines — Forestry England · Sherwood Pines parkrun · The Rustic Crust
Make Inkersall your base. Wrangler's Den sleeps up to 4 — room for a small running group — and the Shepherd's Hut sleeps 2 for a couple running together. See both cabins.
Opening times, prices, and trail conditions change — check the relevant websites before visiting.