Blidworth: Woodland Paths, Heathland and Local History

Blidworth brings together woodland landscapes, marked trails and local history.

Woodland Paths and Bridleway

In Blidworth Woods, you’ll find pine woodland and open heathland. The car park on Longdale Lane provides access to three waymarked walking trails. One of the three waymarked walking trails is surfaced and accessible.

The woods also have a 9 km waymarked bridleway. Blidworth Woods has three waymarked walking trails; the separately marked bridleway is also 9 km long.

Tippings Wood and the Landscape

Tippings Wood combines wetlands and grassland on a former colliery spoil heap, with deciduous oak and birch woodland. By contrast, Blidworth Woods is characterised by pine woodland and open heathland.

Another route detail concerns the area around Tippings Wood: National Cycle Route 6 runs through Boundary Wood, immediately beside Tippings Wood.

Walking Through Blidworth

Blidworth has two Heritage Trails that can be walked. They were publicly launched in July 2025. If you’d like to use the trails, a paper version is available from the stand outside Blidworth Library or inside the library. This lets you plan around the designated trails and make walking routes a focus of your trip. The three waymarked walking trails in Blidworth Woods include one surfaced, accessible route; a paper version of the two walkable Heritage Trails in Blidworth is available from the stand outside Blidworth Library or inside the library.

Church and Local Tradition

The Church of St Mary of the Purification is a Grade II* listed building. Only the west tower remains of the medieval church.

Local traditions are also associated with St Mary’s. According to local tradition, Will Scarlet was buried in the churchyard. The Rocking Ceremony is celebrated at St Mary’s in Blidworth at Candlemas. This tradition is considered probably unique to the village.

Mining History and Planned Settlement

Blidworth Colliery Village was one of the largest carefully planned colliery settlements built in the Nottinghamshire coalfield between the two world wars. The Industrial Housing Association (IHA) laid out and built the settlement for the mining company, following the garden city principles commonly used at the time.

A permanent Rockings monument was unveiled at Forest Folk Corner in Blidworth in March 2010.

More Planning Information

Blidworth Leisure Centre offers online booking for a range of leisure classes and activities. Check the latest class and booking details if you’d like to include these options in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Edwalton, Woodborough, Coddington, Eastwood, Clayworth, Beeston, Sutton Bonington, Willoughby On The Wolds.

For the wider travel overview: Nottinghamshire.