Elkesley

Elkesley is a small village in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, sitting on the north bank of the River Poulter around six miles south of Retford and a similar distance east of Worksop. It is an old settlement, recorded in the Domesday Book, and today is best known for an oddity of its road layout: the village is reached only via a slip road off the A1 dual carriageway, something residents have campaigned for years to change. Despite the busy road nearby, Elkesley itself is peaceful, with a parish church, a village pub, a small shop and a primary school forming the heart of the community.

The surrounding countryside is classic Dukeries territory, the belt of former hunting estates on the fringe of Sherwood Forest that also takes in Clumber Park, Welbeck and Rufford. The Robin Hood Way, a 105-mile waymarked trail that loops through the county linking sites associated with the Robin Hood legend, passes directly through Elkesley on its route between Clumber Park and Retford, making the village a handy stopping point for walkers rather than a destination in its own right.

Top things to do near Elkesley

Elkesley's appeal is really its position within easy reach of some of Nottinghamshire's best-known green spaces and heritage sites.

• Clumber Park — A National Trust estate of parkland, woodland and a serpentine lake, with its famous double avenue of lime trees and a Victorian Gothic chapel, just a few miles from the village.
• The Robin Hood Way — The long-distance path runs straight through Elkesley, following the River Poulter, and can be picked up for a short circular walk or a longer stretch toward Clumber Park or Retford.
• Sherwood Forest and the Major Oak — The remaining ancient woodland of the historic forest, with its famous veteran oak tree, lies within reasonable driving distance to the north.
• Welbeck Estate and The Harley Gallery — A working estate with an art gallery, farm shop and walking trails, part of the wider Dukeries area.
• Worksop and Retford — Both nearby market towns offer shops, cafes and further access into the Dukeries and the Chesterfield Canal.

Getting to Elkesley

Elkesley is unusual in that the only vehicle access is via a slip road directly off the A1, roughly midway between Retford and Worksop, so a car is the practical way to arrive. The village does not have its own railway station; the nearest mainline services run from Retford, which has direct trains on the East Coast Main Line, or from Worksop on the line toward Sheffield and Lincoln. From either town, Elkesley is a short taxi or drive away.

Best time to visit Elkesley

Spring and summer suit the area best, when Clumber Park's avenues and woodland walks and the Robin Hood Way footpaths are at their most pleasant, and riverside camping along the Poulter is at its most comfortable. Autumn brings good colour to the Dukeries woodland, while winter is quieter, with shorter days better suited to a pub lunch than a long walk.

Where to stay near Elkesley

Elkesley itself has no hotels, but the village has a well-regarded campsite, and Retford and Worksop, both a short drive away, offer a range of pubs with rooms, guesthouses and small hotels for those who prefer not to camp.

Food and drink near Elkesley

The village pub, the Robin Hood Inn, is the main option in Elkesley itself. For more choice, Retford and Worksop have a range of cafes, pubs and restaurants, and the Harley Gallery on the Welbeck Estate has a farm shop and cafe popular with visitors exploring the Dukeries.