Welcome to the Robin Hood Award
The Robin Hood Award is an 'self-service award' for Radio Amateurs who make radio contacts into, or out of, Robin Hood Country' in Northern England. All Radio Amateurs can participate, and the award is totally self-regulated by participants.
The Award has two categories: 'Chasers' and 'Activators'. The award is free and the rules are not complicated. New award levels were added in January 2018 response to demand, and include Special Awards which will be offered periodically.
Just 4 contacts are needed to claim the first main awards - more details > here <.
Robin Hood Country covers a very large part of Northern England according to both the original ballads (called 'gestes') and the historical context of anti-royal and anti-monastic dissent in the early Middle Ages.
Please see the map (here) for the area covered. There are also places with Robin Hood associations - including street and 'pub' names to townships, hills and caves - all around Britain and other parts of the world: most can qualify.
Please see the map (here) for the area covered. There are also places with Robin Hood associations - including street and 'pub' names to townships, hills and caves - all around Britain and other parts of the world: most can qualify.
The rules are quite simple - mainly common sense applies.
Background
It is most probable that the original Robin Hood was a fictional character, and the tales are almost certainly based on an the exploits of several outlaws roaming Northern England in the 13th Century .
For a little more 'history go to the Resources Page.
A list of Notable Robin Hood Locations (with WAB/National Grid 10km Squares) can be found at the bottom of this page. There are links to more sources of information on the Resources page. Please note: these are suggestions not activations.
Definition of 'Robin Hood Country'
It is now generally accepted that Robin Hood was a Yorkshireman rather than from Nottingham, and the earliest ballads describe places spread far and wide across Northern England well beyond the bounds of Sherwood Forest. The 'North Country' of England and the adjoining Scottish Borders were places where outlaws flourished. But they were also places far from the King's authority and where the King and the monasteries owned vast 'private' estates. These were all causes for resentment, and many of the North Country folk tales and songs have similar themes to the Robin Hood Legends.
There are many specific locations closely associated with Robin Hood and mentioned in the early ballads and 'gestes'. So, we can 'define' the areas which qualify for the Robin Hood Award quite widely. This map covers the area in which the RHA will operate (click for the full size view).
The areas included are: The Peak District; Nottinghamshire; most of Yorkshire; Derbyshire; Sherwood Forest; Charnwood Forest; the Forest of Bowland; Yorkshire Dales; North York Moors.
Many places in theses areas feature in the early Robin Hood ballads and tales, although the later romanticised stories (books, comics, cartoons and films) only focus on Nottingham and Sherwood Forest.
There are also many named localities associated with Robin Hood in other parts of the UK and even elsewhere in the world: these too qualify for the award.
Definition of 'Robin Hood Country'
It is now generally accepted that Robin Hood was a Yorkshireman rather than from Nottingham, and the earliest ballads describe places spread far and wide across Northern England well beyond the bounds of Sherwood Forest. The 'North Country' of England and the adjoining Scottish Borders were places where outlaws flourished. But they were also places far from the King's authority and where the King and the monasteries owned vast 'private' estates. These were all causes for resentment, and many of the North Country folk tales and songs have similar themes to the Robin Hood Legends.
There are many specific locations closely associated with Robin Hood and mentioned in the early ballads and 'gestes'. So, we can 'define' the areas which qualify for the Robin Hood Award quite widely. This map covers the area in which the RHA will operate (click for the full size view).
The areas included are: The Peak District; Nottinghamshire; most of Yorkshire; Derbyshire; Sherwood Forest; Charnwood Forest; the Forest of Bowland; Yorkshire Dales; North York Moors.
Many places in theses areas feature in the early Robin Hood ballads and tales, although the later romanticised stories (books, comics, cartoons and films) only focus on Nottingham and Sherwood Forest.
There are also many named localities associated with Robin Hood in other parts of the UK and even elsewhere in the world: these too qualify for the award.
The Sherwood Forest connection
This map, designed for Robin Hood fans, shows many of the places in Sherwood Forest which appear in tales about Robin Hood.
The Jury's Inn Map of Sherwood Forest
Click on the map to go to a fully-featured 'Jury's Inn' website about Robin Hood Country (open is a new window).
Some Notable Robin Hood Locations
There are many other places that may have associations with Robin Hood.
| Place | County | NGR (BNGR) | WAB 10km Square |
Location & notes | Access & Permissions |
| Budby Castle | Nottinghamshire | SK 620 699 | SK66 | 4km NW of Ollerton | Private. Permission always required |
| Centre Tree | Nottinghamshire | SK 606 675 | SK66 | Sherwood Forest Country Park | Permission required |
| Clumber Park Chapel | Nottinghamshire | SK 626 746 | SK67 | Near the visitor centre | National Trust; permission required except for /M maybe |
| Creswell Crags | Derbyshire | SK 533 743 | SK57 | Creswell Crags Visitor Centre | Opening times and charges apply |
| Cross of St Edwin’s | Nottinghamshire | SK 592 666 | SK56 | At edge of Sherwood Forest Country Park | Footpath. 370m from road |
| Druid Stone | Nottinghamshire | SK 577 560 | SK55 | 1km W of Blidworth | Footpath. 360m N of A6020 on footpath and parish boundary |
| Friar Tuck’s Well, Fountain Dale | Nottinghamshire | SK 564 566 | SK55 | Fountaindale, 3km W of Blidworth. | Near to footpath (581m from road) |
| Greasley Castle | Nottinghamshire | SK 493 469 | SK44 | Lost village' and few remains. | Private land (not accessible). Roadside has wide verges |
| King John’s Palace | Nottinghamshire | SK 603 647 | SK66 |
Kings Clipstone 8km NE Mansfield | 100m E of village centre. Permission required |
| Kirklees Priory | Sout Yorkshire | SE 170 222 | SE12 | Private estate, with rems of the priory | Permission essential |
| Little John's Grave | Derbyshire | SK 233 818 | SK28 | Hathersage Church, Camp Green | not known |
| Major Oak | Nottinghamshire | SK 620 679 | SK66 | Sherwood Forest Country Park | Permission required |
| Mompesson’s Cross | Nottinghamshire | SK 675 622 | SK66 | Eakring village centre | not known |
| Nottingham Castle | Nottinghamshire | SK 570 394 | SK53 | City centre | Permission always required |
| Parliament Oak | Nottinghamshire | SK 575 659 | SK56 | Layby | not known |
| Robin Hood (hamlet) | Derbyshire | SK 280 721 | SK27 | 2km E of Baslow (A619) | not known |
| Robin Hood (hamlet) | Lancashire | SD 520 114 | SD51 | 2km N of Appley Bridge. | not known |
| Robin Hood (remote hill) | Cumbria | NY 530 059 | NY50 | Shap Fell | not known |
| Robin Hood (village) | West Yorkshire. | SE 325 275 | SE32 | 1km SW Rothley (A654) | not known |
| Robin Hood & Little John | Cambridgeshire | TL 137 983 | TL19 | Castor, W of Peterborough | not known |
| Robin Hood Airport | South Yorkshire | Does not count | not known | ||
| Robin Hood Hill | Nottinghamshire | SK 634 534 | SK65 | Near Oxton |
Private land, no entry. Alternative: Rough Wood roadside SK 635 541 or on footpath |
| Robin Hood's Arbour | Berkshire. | SU 851 810 | SU88 | Maidenhead Thicket. 4km W of Maidenhead (A4) | not known |
| Robin Hood's Ball | Wiltshire | SU 102 460 | SU14 | 3km WNW of Larkhill | Near byways. Military Ranges nearby |
| Robin Hood's Butts | Shropshire | SO 430 964 | SO49 | 3km W of Church Stretton | Roadside |
| Robin Hood's Cave | Nottinghamshire | SK 665 708 | SK67 | 1km W of Walesby | Footpath (600m) from road at SK 665 702 |
| Robin Hood's Cave | Derbyshire | SK 243 835 | SK28 | Stanage Edge | Footpath. Roadside parking 1km S. |
| Robin Hood's Cave | Nottinghamshire | SK 514 546 | SK55 | See Robin Hood's Hills | Permission required |
| Robin Hood's Cross | Derbyshire | SK 186 802 | SK18 | 1km WNW of Abney | Unmade road |
| Robin Hood's Grave | Somerset | ST 230 143 | ST21 | Blackdown Hills (B3170) | Adjacent to road |
| Robin Hood's Grave | West Yorkshire | SE 174 215 | SE12 | 3km NW of Mirfield (A644). 100m NE of road | Private land, permission essential. |
| Robin Hood's Hills | Nottinghamshire | SK 516 547 | SK55 | 1km N of Annesley (A611) | Permission required |
| Robin Hood's Picking Rods | Lancashire / Derbyshire | SK 008 909 | SK09 | Remote hills | Footpaths (road c.2km) |
| Robin Hood's Stride | Derbyshire | SK 225 620 | SK26 | 1.5km W of Birchover (A5056) | Footpath (or road 320m) |
| Robin Hood's Well | Nottinghamshire | SK 496 491 | SK44 | 1.5km NW of Moorgreen (B600) near Beauvale Priory (ruin). | Private land. Alternative may be SK 497 489 (roadside – 100m) |
| Robin Hood's Well & Little John's Well | Derbyshire | SK 266 799 & SK 265 794 | SK27 | Longshaw Estate, National Trust | Permission essential. Alternative c.SK 268 794 (roadside - 300m) |
| Robin Hood’s Whetstone | Nottinghamshire | SK54 57 Approx | SK55 | Location somewhere on busy A60 at Thieves Wood | not known |
| Rufford Abbey | Nottinghamshire | SK 644 647 | SK66 | Rufford Country Park | Permission required |
| Southwell Minster | Nottinghamshire | SK 702 538 | SK75 | Busy town centre | Try the Memorial Gardens very close by |
| St Mary’s Church | Nottinghamshire | SK 625 668 | SK66 | Edwinstowe | not known |
| Steetley Chapel | Nottinghamshire | SK 543 787 | SK57 | Pull-in from side road off A619. 4km W of Worksop | not known |
| The ‘Murder’ Stone | Nottinghamshire | SK54 57 Approx | SK55 | Location somewhere on busy A60 Thieves Wood | not known |
| The Forester’s Tomb | Nottinghamshire | SK 546 515 | SK55 | St James' Churchyard, Papplewick | Difficult access. Permission may be required |
| Thieves Wood | Nottinghamshire | SK 545 571 | SK55 | 4km S of Mansfield | Permission may be required |
| Will Scarlett’s Grave | Nottinghamshire | SK 585 556 | SK55 | St Mary's Churchyard, Blidworth | not known |
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