5 of the Best Family Bike Rides in Nottinghamshire
Looking for the best family bike rides in Nottinghamshire? Whether you have toddlers on balance bikes, children who are building confidence on two wheels or older kids ready for longer adventures, Nottinghamshire has plenty of traffic-free trails and quiet country routes to explore.
Ask anyone who grew up in Nottinghamshire, and they’ll probably tell you about a Sunday morning bike ride with their family. It might have been along a quiet canal path, through the trees at Sherwood Pines or around one of the county’s many parks. These are the kinds of simple outings that stick with you. Today, there are plenty of family bike rides in Nottinghamshire to enjoy, from peaceful woodland tracks to scenic waterside paths, making it easy to plan memorable cycling days out with children of all ages.
One of the best things about cycling with kids in Nottinghamshire is that many of the routes are quieter than you might expect. The county has an excellent mix of traffic-free cycle routes, family-friendly forest trails, flat canal towpaths and country park loops, giving you plenty of choice whether you’re looking for a short afternoon ride or a longer adventure. These family cycling routes cater for a wide range of ages and abilities, so you don’t need expensive equipment or expert skills. Just pack a few snacks, make sure everyone’s bike fits properly and choose one of the many easy bike rides for families that make exploring Nottinghamshire such a pleasure.
Choose the Right Bike
The bike itself is worth thinking about properly before you start planning your day out. A child on a bike that is too heavy, too large, or fitted with gears they cannot operate is going to find the whole experience harder than it needs to be. Properly sized kids’ bikes that are light and well-fitted make a real difference to how much children actually enjoy the ride. Saddle height matters too – even a small adjustment can make pedalling noticeably easier, and easier pedalling means fewer complaints, which is the goal.
Here are some of the best places to enjoy a family cycling day out in Nottinghamshire.
The best cycling routes for families in Nottinghamshire
Sherwood Pines
Sherwood Pines in Sherwood Forest is the one that most local families try first, with three way-marked trails to choose from. The Family Cycle route is 4.8km, starts near the Visitor Centre, runs entirely off-road on an all-weather surface, and is graded green – meaning it is genuinely suitable for children who are still finding their feet on a bike. There is also a newer trail, the Pedal and Play skills area, which opened in 2026 and was built specifically with newer cyclists in mind.
If your children enjoy something a little more adventurous, Sherwood Pines also has a dedicated dirt jump area where more experienced riders can practise jumps and improve their bike handling skills. It’s best suited to confident cyclists with the right equipment, but it’s great fun to watch too, and younger siblings often enjoy cheering on the bigger riders before heading back to the family trails.
Bike hire is available on site if loading bikes onto the car feels like too much effort on a Sunday morning (it often does!).
Parking: There is a large pay-and-display car park next to the Visitor Centre, with plenty of spaces even on busier weekends, although arriving earlier during school holidays is a good idea.
Toilets: Toilets, including accessible facilities and baby changing, are available near the Visitor Centre.
Café: The Forest Table café serves hot drinks, lunches, children’s meals and cakes, making it an easy place to refuel after your ride.
Bike hire: Yes – bike hire is available on site, with options for both adults and children if you don’t want to bring your own bikes.
Pushchair friendly? Yes. The main family cycle route is on an all-weather surface, and many of the surrounding walking paths are suitable for sturdy pushchairs too.
Best age: Ideal for children aged around 4+ who can confidently ride on their own, although younger children can enjoy the trails in a child seat or trailer.
Nottingham Canal Trail
The Nottingham Canal Trail is a different sort of ride. It follows the old disused canal from Wollaton through Trowell and out towards Langley Mill – about 8.7 miles in total, mostly flat. Near Trowell, you pass what is left of Swansea Bridge, one of the original stone canal bridges from the 1790s. Conditions along the trail change from section to section, and wetter stretches are generally easier to navigate on bikes with wider tyres. Worth knowing before you go. The birdlife along the water is good year-round, and in summer the dragonflies are worth stopping for.
Parking: There are several access points with parking along the route, including near Wollaton, Trowell and Langley Mill, so you can choose a section that suits your family.
Toilets: Public toilets are limited along the trail, so it’s worth planning a stop before setting off or using facilities at nearby cafés or parks.
Café: There aren’t many cafés directly on the route, but you’ll find plenty within a short distance at Wollaton and nearby villages if you’re planning a longer outing.
Bike hire: There isn’t bike hire directly on the trail, so you’ll need to bring your own bikes.
Pushchair friendly? Parts of the trail are suitable for pushchairs, but some sections can become muddy or uneven after heavy rain, making them better suited to bikes than buggies.
Best age: Best for children aged around 7+ who are comfortable cycling for several miles without lots of stops.
Attenborough Nature Reserve
Attenborough Nature Reserve works well for shorter rides or younger children. The paths around the lakes are flat and traffic-free, and the reserve is large enough that it does not feel crowded even when 500,000 people visit over the course of a year (which is apparently how many do). Managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, the wildlife here is genuinely well looked after. Herons are common. Kingfishers less so, but they are there.
Parking: A pay-and-display car park is available beside the Nature Centre, with additional parking nearby if it’s particularly busy.
Toilets: Toilets and accessible facilities are available inside the Nature Centre during opening hours.
Café: The café overlooks the reserve and is a lovely place to stop for lunch, coffee or cake while watching the wildlife on the lakes.
Bike hire: Bike hire isn’t available on site, so you’ll need to bring your own.
Pushchair friendly? Yes. Many of the main paths are wide, level and suitable for pushchairs, making it a good choice if you’re visiting with younger siblings.
Best age: Suitable for all ages. It’s especially good for younger children or families looking for a gentle, shorter ride with plenty of wildlife to spot.
Vale of Belvoir
The Vale of Belvoir is for families with older or more confident riders. The lanes near Scarrington are quiet and mostly flat, and a loop of around 9 miles takes you past the horseshoe tower in Scarrington – a 17-foot structure built from old horseshoes by the village blacksmith. It is the kind of thing children remember long after they have forgotten the actual ride.
Parking: Parking is available in several villages throughout the Vale, including Scarrington, although spaces tend to be small rather than dedicated visitor car parks.
Toilets: Public toilets are limited, so it’s worth planning ahead or stopping at a café or pub along your route.
Café: There are a number of welcoming village cafés and country pubs nearby, making this a great route if you enjoy combining a bike ride with lunch or an afternoon treat.
Bike hire: There are no bike hire facilities within the Vale itself, so you’ll need to bring your own bikes.
Pushchair friendly? This route follows quiet country lanes rather than dedicated paths, so it’s designed for cyclists rather than pushchairs.
Best age: Best suited to confident cyclists aged around 10+ who are comfortable sharing quiet roads and riding longer distances.
Clumber Park
Clumber Park is another fantastic choice for families looking for a relaxed day out on two wheels. Managed by the National Trust, the park has miles of mostly flat, traffic-free roads and cycle paths that wind through peaceful woodland, open parkland and alongside the beautiful lake. The gentle terrain makes it ideal for younger riders who are building confidence, while older children can happily explore further afield. Bike hire is available on site, so you don’t even need to bring your own if you’re travelling light.
Keep an eye out for wildlife along the way, including deer and a variety of birds, and don’t miss the impressive Gothic-style chapel, which is one of the park’s best-known landmarks.
Parking: There is a large pay-and-display visitor car park close to the main facilities. National Trust members can park for free, and it’s worth arriving early during weekends and school holidays as it can get busy.
Toilets: Toilets, accessible facilities and baby changing are available near the main visitor area and café.
Café: The Central Bark café and The Courtyard Café offer hot drinks, lunches, children’s options and cakes, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
Bike hire: Yes – bike hire is available within the park, with a range of adult and children’s bikes, as well as trailers and child seats available to hire.
Pushchair friendly? Yes. Many of the main paths are wide, level and surfaced, making them suitable for pushchairs as well as young cyclists.
Best age: Suitable for all ages. Younger children will enjoy the shorter, flatter routes around the lake and visitor centre, while older children can tackle some of the longer cycling routes through the estate.
| Route | Distance | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sherwood Pines | 4.8km (Family Cycle Route) | Young children, beginners and families wanting an easy off-road ride |
| Nottingham Canal Trail | Up to 8.7 miles | Families looking for a longer, mostly flat ride |
| Attenborough Nature Reserve | Flexible routes | Beginners, younger children and wildlife lovers |
| Clumber Park | Various routes (2-10+ miles) | All ages, family days out and traffic-free cycling |
| Vale of Belvoir | Around 9 miles | Older children and more confident young cyclists |
Getting kids ready for a day out on bikes
Always pack more snacks than you think you’ll need. This comes up every time because it is genuinely what makes or breaks a family ride.
After that: helmets that fit (check at home, not in the car park), a basic puncture kit, and realistic expectations about distance. Children’s stamina is not linear. They can be full of energy at mile two and completely done at mile five, with no obvious warning in between. Planning stops – actual stops, not just slowing down – helps. A ten-minute break near water or a bench somewhere tends to reset things.
What to do when the riding is done
At Sherwood Pines, there is an adventure play area, a picnic area, and a cafe. If the weather is good, eating outside in the trees after a ride is a lovely way to spend some time, and there’s loads of space for ball games afterwards. If the weather is not good – and the East Midlands is not always cooperative – the cafe is family-friendly, and the cake is reliably worth stopping for.
If you’ve taken your dog along with you, then head to the dog agility course for some fun – make sure you take some treats with you to reward them! We always do this with our dog, and Ava loves attempting to get her to run up, down and through the challenges!
Attenborough Nature Reserve has the Nature Centre and cafe at the entrance, with balcony seating that looks directly over the water. It is a calm place to sit after a ride. The reserve runs wildlife events for families throughout the year – check the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust website before visiting, because some sessions fill up faster than you would expect.
If you have been riding near West Bridgford or along the canal, Holme Pierrepont Country Park is right there and has more going on than most people realise. Mini golf, a Sky Trail, paddleboarding – the kind of place where children who were supposedly exhausted after the bike ride suddenly find a second wind. It sits on 270 acres, so there is room to spread out, and it keeps younger children occupied long enough for the adults to actually sit down for a bit.
At Clumber Park, there’s plenty to do once you’ve finished cycling, with a café, playground and lots of space for a family picnic, making it easy to turn a bike ride into a full day out.
Making family cycling a regular habit
Nottinghamshire is a county that rewards going back. Sherwood Pines in October, when the light through the trees is different, is not the same ride as Sherwood Pines in April. The canal trail changes with the seasons. Returning to the same routes over time is part of how cycling becomes a habit rather than a one-off thing.
Starting small works best. A Sunday morning loop of 4 or 5 miles is enough to begin with – short enough that it does not feel like a commitment, long enough to feel like an actual outing. From there, a monthly trail or a seasonal challenge is a natural next step. The Vale of Belvoir in summer, when the lanes are dry and the villages are quiet, is a good step up from the forest routes.
Children who start on short, manageable loops tend to grow into longer rides faster than most parents expect. Finding a bike that fits properly from the beginning can make that progression much smoother.
Parents looking for age-appropriate models often turn to specialist retailers such as Bobbin Bikes, where it is easier to find options designed to suit different stages of a child’s development. A child who is comfortable on a well-fitted bike at six is often covering real distances by eight or nine. And once weekend cycling becomes a routine, Nottinghamshire has enough variety to keep it going for years.
Family bike rides don’t have to be ambitious to become memorable. Sometimes it’s the simple outings that children remember most – spotting a kingfisher along the canal, racing down the hills at Sherwood Pines, or stopping for cake and a break after a few miles. Whether you’re heading out for an hour or making a day of it, Nottinghamshire has plenty of family-friendly cycling routes that make it easy to get outside, spend time together and explore somewhere new.
Have you discovered another great family bike ride in Nottinghamshire? I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments below.
FAQs About Family Bike Rides in Nottinghamshire
What is the best family bike ride in Nottinghamshire?
Sherwood Pines is often considered one of the best places for family cycling in Nottinghamshire. Its green-graded Family Cycle Route is traffic-free, well signposted and suitable for younger riders, with bike hire, a café, playground and even a Go Ape trail all on site.
Are there traffic-free cycling routes in Nottinghamshire?
Yes, there are several excellent traffic-free routes for families. Sherwood Pines, Clumber Park and Attenborough Nature Reserve all offer safe, off-road cycling, while much of the Nottingham Canal Trail is away from busy roads.
Where can I hire bikes in Nottinghamshire?
Bike hire is available at both Sherwood Pines and Clumber Park, making them great choices if you don’t own bikes or don’t want to transport them. Most other routes require you to bring your own bicycles.
Which Nottinghamshire cycling route is best for young children?
For younger children or beginners, Sherwood Pines and Attenborough Nature Reserve are both excellent choices. They offer mostly flat, easy-to-follow routes with plenty of places to stop for snacks, toilet breaks or a play.
Is Clumber Park good for cycling with children?
Yes. Clumber Park has miles of mostly flat, traffic-free roads and cycle paths that are ideal for families. There are routes suitable for all ages, along with bike hire, cafés, toilets and plenty of picnic spots.
What should I pack for a family bike ride?
Along with well-fitting helmets and bikes, it’s worth packing plenty of snacks, drinks, sun cream, waterproofs, a basic puncture repair kit and a small first aid kit. Planning a few stops along the way also helps keep younger cyclists happy.
When is the best time of year for family cycling in Nottinghamshire?
Spring, summer and early autumn are all lovely times to explore Nottinghamshire by bike. Spring brings wildflowers and new wildlife, summer offers longer days for family adventures, while autumn is particularly beautiful in places like Sherwood Pines and Clumber Park when the leaves begin to change colour.
Are Nottinghamshire’s family cycling routes suitable for beginners?
Yes. Many of the county’s most popular cycling routes are designed with beginners in mind. Sherwood Pines, Attenborough Nature Reserve and Clumber Park all have gentle, mostly flat routes that are ideal for families who are just starting to cycle together.
This is a collaborative post.
