Step away from the everyday and join us for four days of autumn adventure in the heart of Sherwood Forest. From Thursday 29 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, families, couples and individuals will come together to explore ancient woodlands, walk among the autumn colours, mountain bike through forest trails, take on Go Ape, try archery, experience white-water rafting and other watersports, and enjoy time outdoors. There will also be opportunities to learn and share through practical workshops, including parenting and relationships, photography, video and drone skills. Alongside it all, we’ll cook and eat together, pray together, reflect on the Qur’an and enjoy being part of a welcoming community in nature. Come and experience Sherwood Forest with Muslim Family Adventures this autumn.
Sherwood Forest and Pines
Sherwood Forest is one of England’s most famous ancient woodlands, known for its centuries-old oak trees, rich wildlife and its connection with the legend of Robin Hood. At its heart stands the Major Oak, an ancient tree thought to be around 800–1,100 years old. In autumn, the forest takes on a different character as the leaves change colour and the woodland paths become a beautiful place to walk, explore and slow down. With Sherwood Forest and nearby Sherwood Pines offering miles of trails and outdoor activities, it is a wonderful setting for adventure, connection with nature and reflection.
Sherwood Pines is a large forest adventure area close to Sherwood Forest, with miles of woodland trails and activities for different ages and abilities. It is particularly well known for its cycling and mountain biking, with family-friendly routes as well as more challenging trails for experienced riders. The forest is also home to Go Ape, walking and running trails, play areas and other outdoor activities. With tall pine trees, open forest tracks and plenty of space to explore, Sherwood Pines gives us a great setting for a full day of adventure together.
Accommodation
YHA Sherwood Forest will be our home for the retreat, located in the village of Edwinstowe on the edge of the legendary Sherwood Forest. Its location gives us easy access to the ancient woodland, the Major Oak and the many walking and cycling trails in the surrounding area. The hostel provides a relaxed and practical base where we can stay together, share meals, pray, spend time as a community and head out each day for our adventures. It is an ideal setting for experiencing the forest while enjoying the warmth and connection of an MFA retreat.
Planned Programme
Our programme is designed to balance adventure, nature, learning, reflection and time together. Activities and timings may change depending on weather and availability.
Day 1 — Thursday 29 October
Arrival • Welcome • Into the Night
Arrive and settle into Sherwood Forest before coming together for our welcome and introduction. After dinner and prayers, we head outdoors for a night walk and stargazing, beginning our retreat beneath the autumn night sky.
Highlights: Arrival & settling in • Welcome & introduction • Communal dinner • Praying together • Night walk • Stargazing
Day 2 — Friday 30 October
Sherwood Forest • Explore & Connect
Spend the day discovering the ancient woodland of Sherwood Forest, including its remarkable old trees and the famous Major Oak. Alongside our time outdoors, we’ll come together for an interactive Parenting & Relationship Workshop, exploring how we can strengthen our connections within our families.
Highlights: Ancient woodland exploration • Forest walks • Major Oak • Jumu’ah • Parenting & Relationship Workshop • Communal cooking & eating • Qur’an reflection
Day 3 — Saturday 31 October
Adventure Day • Sherwood Pines
Our main adventure day takes us into Sherwood Pines, with opportunities for mountain biking, archery and Go Ape among the trees. We’ll also have a practical Photography, Video & Drone Workshop, learning how to capture our adventures and the natural world creatively.
Highlights: Mountain biking • Archery • Go Ape • Forest adventure • Photography, Video & Drone Workshop • Evening gathering
Day 4 — Sunday 1 November
Watersports • Farewell
After breakfast and checking out, we finish our weekend with an optional watersports adventure. Those looking for a bigger challenge can experience white-water rafting, while other options include paddlesports. We then come together to close the retreat and say our farewells.
Highlights: Breakfast & checkout • White-water rafting • Paddlesports • Closing & farewell
The programme is indicative and subject to weather, water conditions, activity-provider availability and final arrangements.
Food Arrangement
At the heart of the adventure-retreat is communal self-catering, where everyone comes together to prepare and enjoy meals as one big family. MFA will provide fresh, organic, and local ingredients wherever possible, and the group will prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This shared experience is about more than food—it’s about bonding, sharing skills, and creating memories.
Breakfast
We will prepare nourishing breakfasts on Days 2, 3 and 4, including eggs (boiled, scrambled, fried), baked beans, mushrooms, mixed vegetables, toast, milk, cereals, spreads, and hot drinks.
Lunch
Each family will prepare their own packed lunches (tuna or cheese sandwiches, and fruits) using the communal groceries.
Dinner
We will work in teams to prepare themed dinners on Days 2 and 3:
Day 2: Arab/Turkish-inspired chicken dishes
Day 3: Asian-inspired lamb dishes
Families will handle their own dinner on Day 1.
Refreshments
Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate will be available throughout your stay.
Kitchen Facilities
The fully fitted industrial kitchen is equipped with all the essentials we need to prepare delicious meals, including a wide range of pots, pans, utensils, cutlery, and crockery. It offers plenty of space for us to cook comfortably. Additionally, we'll find ample refrigerator and freezer facilities to store our ingredients and keep our food fresh throughout our stay.
Pricing
This Adventure Retreat is thoughtfully priced to make it accessible for families: £170 per parent/adult and £135 per child. Infants aged 5 or under can join for free (sharing a bed with a parent or sibling). Optional extras include £75 per room for en-suite facilities and £21.50 per person (age 6 and above) for communal food arrangements. We also offer a 10% discount for larger families with 5 or more paying members.
Your investment covers a comprehensive package: clean and comfortable hostel accommodation with self-catering communal cooking facilities, a carefully curated adventure programme, uplifting Islamic reminders, meaningful family-friendly activities, and a safe, vibrant Muslim community environment.
Please note: transport, optional instructor-led activities, and equipment hire are not included.
If you are experiencing any financial difficulties, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to help and will do our best to support you so your family doesn’t miss out on this meaningful experience.