Walesby Forest

View prices & book 8.2 357 reviews
Kayak at the site
Kayak at the site
Swimming pool
The lake
Visitor image of their pitch
Visitor image of the large pitches
Visitor image of their set up
Tent, picnic bench, altar fire/barbecue
Bell tent in amongst the trees
1/285
Swimming pool
The lake
Visitor image of their pitch

  • Adventurous site set in 250 acres of woodland and other rural scenery
  • A mile from Walesby village and 35 minutes' drive from Lincoln
  • On-site bar and shop; over 40 leisure activities on land and water
If you're looking to alternate between relaxing in 250 acres of Robin Hood country and a whole host of adventurous activities for guests over the age of four, seek out a spot at Walesby Forest in leafy Nottinghamshire. The vast range of leisure activities here should help even those averse to alfresco exercise get moving, with popular options including watersports, climbing, archery and rifle shooting. A friendly team of dedicated instructors is on hand to make sure all that outdoor action takes place in a safe, low-pressure environment. The programme is updated daily, with a flexible play and pay policy to keep it all affordable. Time to swap sporty sessions for a bit of downtime? Take your pick from drinks or snacks at the bar, a poolside snooze or rambles through the site's wild woodland areas, where all sorts of animals can be spotted. Angling fans may find it similarly peaceful to take advantage of the free river Maun fishing opportunities available on site. When it comes to food, there's a handy catering barn (which, with advance notice, can sort meals for guests with special dietary requirements), plus a small shop that stocks plenty of sweet treats and souvenirs. If you'd rather step out for dinner, make your way into Walesby (a mile away), where two popular establishments are all set to serve up pub-cooked food. While there may not be a playground on site, there are 250 acres of space for ball games and adventures.

Site type

Rent a tent 9
Tent sites 218
Caravan sites 64
Motorhome sites 4
Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 4
Open now
Opens 27 March
Please note

Pitches

  • A cable measuring at least 20 metres is needed for the electric hook-ups.

General

  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • Entertainment and activities are available between 28/03 and 01/11.
  • The bar is open between 27/03 and 01/11.
  • The games room is open between 27/03 and 01/11.
  • The restaurant is open between 28/03 and 01/11.

Extras

  • Facilities/activities including adventure activities are subject to extra charges payable on arrival.

Safety

  • Fires, barbecues and/or firepits will not be permitted in dry, windy and/or hot weather conditions.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.

Occupancy

  • No hen/stag parties permitted via Pitchup.com.

Reception

  • Reception is unmanned after 5:30 p.m.. Please inform the campground while on your way there should you expect to arrive after this time so that the team can provide information about your unit/site.

Dogs

  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dog Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro).
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.

Pool

  • The outdoor swimming pool is open between 02/05 and 31/08 (subject to weather conditions).

Admission

  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Fri, 27 Mar to

No availability here for your search criteria

Pitch types & availability

Accommodation

Tent sitesCaravan sitesMotorhome sitesLodges, cabins, pods or hutsCaravans for hireRent a tent
Choose your dates
2 adults
0 children
0 dogs
Dogs allowed
Other options

Reviews

8.2

Overall rating from 357 Pitchup.com customers

  • 39%
    10
  • 9%
    9
  • 24%
    8
  • 8%
    7
  • 9%
    6
  • 2%
    5
  • 3%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 1%
    2
  • 1%
    1
Location
 9
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 8
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 6
Bush

88% would recommend this site to a friend

83% would stay here again

What customers say

Great for families with loads to do! Spacious sites but loos and showers could be cleaner & closer. Electric hook-ups can be a bit weak. Pools and activities popular but expect queues & extra costs.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 4/08/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 36
Arrival date (latest first)

We had a fantastic stay at…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 6
Anonymous

Power optional grass site

Liked We had a fantastic stay at Walesby Forest. We loved the large open spaces, which gave my child plenty of room to run around and explore safely. The activities were great and kept my child entertained throughout our stay. Particularly enjoyed the water activities.

The campsite was tidy, and had a lovely family-friendly atmosphere. The staff were friendly and helpful, and we would definitely recommend it to other families looking for a fun camping trip. We can’t wait to come back!

Disliked There were a few areas that could be improved. The bar could benefit from a more friendly and lively atmosphere, as it currently feels quite basic. The on-site shop also closes quite early, and with the main gate closing at 8.30pm, it would be great to have a pizza or takeaway option available on site for convenience.

Due to the weather, no BBQs or fires were allowed, which is understandable, but it did mean there wasn’t much to do in the evenings other than stay in the tent.

The toilet and shower facilities felt quite dated and could do with a revamp. The showers also turn off too quickly, and the lighting going off unexpectedly was inconvenient; simple manual light switches would be a big improvement. The swimming pool is a nice addition, but it is not heated and was extremely cold, although still enjoyable on a hot day.

The changing and shower areas at the pool were also quite cramped, with limited space to sit or store belongings, which made getting changed difficult.

Overall, it’s a great campsite with a lot of potential, but it would really benefit from investment in modernising the facilities, especially the showers and changing areas. With a few improvements, it could be an outstanding destination.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely site. Lots to do. Just get those toilet cubicles cleaner.

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Marianne H. 1 review

Unpowered grass site (large, no pets)

Liked Absolutely love the sight. The big pitches are just great, gives so much personal space.
Lots of choice of activities for the kids and of course the free swimming pool is great.

Disliked We have stayed here before (4 years ago )
And we were so impressed with the level of cleanliness in the toilet/ shower blocks but unfortunately this time not so impressed. The toilets and sinks were kept clean but the surrounding areas not so this time. The cubicles and doors had the same dirty marks on them the whole time we were there. To me this really makes a difference in how you judge a level of cleanliness.

Recommend to friends Visit again

We had a great stay at…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 5
Wifi
 No rating
Lukasz W. 2 reviews

Unpowered grass site (no pets)

Liked We had a great stay at this campsite. The staff at the reception were very friendly, welcoming, and helpful throughout our stay. We really enjoyed our time here.

Disliked The main issue was that it was very difficult to find our designated pitch. Several other guests I spoke with experienced the same problem, so clearer signage would be very helpful.

The biggest downside of this campsite is the condition of the toilets and showers. They were in very poor condition and not clean enough. I am not a particularly demanding guest, but I believe the sanitary facilities should be maintained to a much higher standard.

Overall, the campsite is great and we enjoyed our stay. However, the management should focus more on renovating and keeping the toilets and showers clean, as this would significantly improve the overall experience.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Good location, nice tent.…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 No rating
Grazvydas G. 2 reviews

Bell tent (no pets)

Liked Good location, nice tent.

Disliked Toilets outdated and not clean.

Recommend to friends Visit again

We enjoyed our stay - and would recommend

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Power optional grass site

Liked Fantastic facilities: clean showers, hot water for washing up, and an on-site swimming pool/activities (pre-book wristbands in advance).
​Great food options: on-site bar with lush pizzas, plus handy shop for essentials.
​Location: huge site with plenty of space, and only a 20-minute walk to Walesby's local pubs.

Disliked ​Pitch layout and marking: The system caused chaos when new arrivals came in—people got bunched up in one corner, leaving the middle space unused. Clearer markings would make a huge difference.
​EHU distances: Bring a minimum 25m cable! Points aren't clearly tagged/numbered to pitches, so you may need a long reach even if parked near a post.
​Watch out for ants on-site—keep food sealed tight!

Recommend to friends Visit again

The space and facilities…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
christian w. 4 reviews

Power optional grass site (large, no pets)

Liked The space and facilities

Recommend to friends Visit again

We liked the amount of space…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 6
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 4
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 3
Anonymous

Unpowered grass site

Liked We liked the amount of space we had and how friendly the staff were

Disliked We could not see the activities on my phone because we needed internet and we didn’t have any

Recommend to friends Visit again

Highly recommend this site.

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
 Russell P. 1 review

Power optional grass site (large, no pets)

Liked Amazing site. Good facilities. Great staff. Had an issue with some antisocial neighbours and they sorted it lively.

Disliked Nothing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great staff Nice setting Great Shower facilities…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 9
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 5
 Other S. 1 review

Power optional grass site (no pets)

Liked Great staff
Nice setting
Great Shower facilities

Disliked Pool and changing rooms need a bit of an update.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The location is perfect for a…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 8
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
jos v. 1 review

Power optional grass site (no pets)

Liked The location is perfect for a family with kids to wander around. Quiet, but close to lot of grocery shops

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Covered terrace area Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site cafe On-site restaurant On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Baby-changing facilities Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

D. of E. welcome Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Rallies welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Camping 2.0

Jumbo tent sites

Themes

Bush Peaceful Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Convenience store nearby Dog walk nearby Nearby farmers' market Public transport nearby

Type

Very large (over 200 sites)

Accessibility

Accessible parking at site Bathrooms: Large spacious shower Bathrooms: Large spacious toilet Bathrooms: Step-free access Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible shower Bathrooms: Wheelchair accessible toilet Bathrooms: Wide doorways (over 85 cm) Level campground, no steep slopes Smooth, hard roads e.g. tarmac Step-free or level access

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Golf nearby Indoor pool nearby Leisure/theme park nearby Mountain biking nearby Outdoor pool nearby Restaurant nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Walesby Forest

Brake Road

Newark

Nottinghamshire

England

NG22 9NG

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

53.22455°N
0.99979°W

Nearest transport

Coach
10.3 km Hetts Lane
10.4 km Bingo Hall
11.5 km Bus Station
Rail
10.6 km Retford Low Level Rail Station
10.7 km Retford Rail Station
12.7 km Worksop Rail Station
Airport
28.5 km Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport
29.1 km Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport
31.8 km Sheffield City Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

With its tales of Robin Hood, ancient oaks, country houses and lush leafy landscape, Sherwood Forest has something to keep most sorts content. Clumber Park (15 minutes' drive) has long avenues of limes and open heath to stroll through, while over by the Major Oak (10 minutes) you can get acquainted with one of the area's stand-out trees before setting out on several waymarked hiking routes (maps available at the visitor centre next door). Similarly close to base is Go Ape Sherwood (10 minutes), where a medley of segways and zipwires nicely complement any on-site activities you've got up to during your stay. Kids not quite old enough for that kind of activity? Fear not, as families with younger members will find plenty of age-appropriate entertainment at Wheelgate Waterpark (15 minutes) or Sundown Adventureland (20 minutes). Spending time in town is also doable here, as Walesby Forest is just over half an hour from Lincoln's castle, cathedral and urban arboretum. Meanwhile, over in Newark (30 minutes), there's Civil War heritage, antiques shops and weekly markets in a handsome Georgian square, plus hovercraft tours if you fancy something a little different.

Must see

Sherwood Forest Country Park 4.9 km

Mansfield Museum 16.1 km

Bolsover Castle 19.6 km

Hardwick Hall 20.8 km

Hardwick Old Hall 21.5 km

National Trust

Clumber Park 6.5 km

Mr Straw's House 12.6 km

The Workhouse, Southwell 16.5 km

Hardwick Hall 21.5 km

Hardwick Estate: Stainsby Mill 21.5 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Bothamsall - Robin Hood's Cave - Walesby - Bothamsall 3.1 km

THORESBY PARK 3.1 km

The Major Oak and Sherwood Forest 4.9 km

The Major Oak - Sherwood Forest - Edwinstowe 4.9 km

Clumber and Surrounding Forests - Robin Hood Way 6.2 km

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Want to know more about camping in Nottinghamshire?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Walesby Forest have a swimming pool? Yes View all features
  • Is Walesby Forest dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Walesby Forest? With its tales of Robin Hood, ancient oaks, country houses and lush leafy landscape, Sherwood Forest has something to keep most sorts content. Clumber Park (15 minutes' drive) has long avenues of … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Walesby Forest?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  10 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  10 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.

    Please call the duty manager on the number provided if you are running late.

    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Walesby Forest? From $45.89 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.