Plan your visit
Getting here
53.17112, -1.02689
About RUFFORD ABBEY
Rufford Abbey is a country estate in Rufford, Nottinghamshire, England, two miles (4 km) south of Ollerton. Originally a Cistercian abbey, it was converted to a country house in the 16th century after Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Part of the house was demolished in the 20th century, but the remains, standing in 150 acres of park and woodland, are open to the public as Rufford Country Park.
Read more on Wikipedia →Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦85+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Black-headed Gull and Moorhen
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦85+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Black-headed Gull and Moorhen
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
Good to know
- 🐕Dogs welcome
Best for
Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Black-headed Gull, Moorhen, Mallard +82 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Heritage
Very strong match
Grade I listed building: RUFFORD ABBEY; Historic site with public access
Wildlife
Strong match
Birds — Black-headed Gull, Moorhen, Mallard +82 more · last seen 2026; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Dog walks
Good match
Dogs allowed with public access
Foraging
Good match
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Hiking
Good match
Named hiking route nearby: Robin Hood Way; Named hiking route nearby: Robin Hood Way
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km🚶Walking
7 signed routes nearby · 37 public paths nearby
Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Walking
Southwell TrailWalking route
Greenwood TrailWalking route
Dukeries TrailWalking route
Major Oak TrailWalking route
Giants TrailWalking route
🚴Cycling
29 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Cycling
Route 645Cycling route
Route 645Cycling route
Route 6Cycling route
National Byway (Southwell Loop)Cycling route
Main RouteCycling route114 m
Main RouteCycling route233 m
🚵Mountain biking
3 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Mountain biking
Family Cycle RouteMountain bike route
Outlaw TrailMountain bike route
Viking TrailMountain bike route
🐴Horse riding
10 public paths nearby
Public paths
Horse riding
Vexation Lanebyway open to all traffic · 17 m
Vexation Lanebyway open to all traffic · 453 m
Vexation Lanebyway open to all traffic · 39 m
Vexation Lanebyway open to all traffic · 145 m
Wildlife to spot
Photos
Weather for this location
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Nearby places
Useful places within 5 km