Dogging in Nottinghamshire: area guide
Nottinghamshire is mostly low, green and well connected, with a big city in the south and old forest and farmland to the north and east. This guide covers the roads, the trains, the flood risk and the daylight hours. It doesn't list private spots.
- The lie of the land
- Getting about safely
- Daylight through the year
- The law and your safety
- Questions about Nottinghamshire
- Nearby areas
The lie of the land in Nottinghamshire
Nottingham sits in the south of the county and is by far the biggest place, with a large built-up area spilling into Beeston, West Bridgford, Arnold and Hucknall. Further north is a belt of former coalfield towns, including Mansfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Worksop. Newark-on-Trent and Retford are the main towns on the eastern side.
Most of the county is gently rolling or flat. The River Trent runs through it from south-west to north-east, and its wide, low valley is the main feature of the east. The old royal hunting forest of Sherwood still shapes the middle and north, with patches of woodland, heath and parkland among the farms. There is no National Park here, and the hills are low.
Nottingham pulls in people from Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, and the A1 and M1 bring in drivers from much further away. Because the county is flat and open, it is easy to underestimate how far you can be from help or from a signal. Plan your trip rather than wandering.
Getting about safely
The M1 runs along the western edge, past Nottingham and on towards Mansfield. The A1 runs through the east, passing Newark and Retford, while the A46 links Newark to Leicester. The A52 and A453 are the main routes in and out of Nottingham, and the A617 and A614 cross the old coalfield. Rush hour jams are heavy around the ring road and at the M1 junctions near the city.
Nottingham station has direct trains to London St Pancras, Leicester, Derby, Birmingham and Lincoln. The Robin Hood Line runs north to Mansfield and Worksop. Newark has two stations on two lines, one of them on the East Coast Main Line. Nottingham's tram network runs to Hucknall and out to Toton and Clifton. Late services thin out, and some country lines have few trains after about 9pm, so check the last one before you leave.
Rural lanes between the villages are often straight, narrow and unlit, with deep ditches or hedges at the edge. The Trent valley floods after heavy rain, and low roads near Newark, Southwell and the river villages can be under water for days. Fog settles on the flat land on cold, still nights and can cut visibility to a few metres. Mobile signal is usually good, but it can drop in the forest and along some low valley roads.
Daylight in Nottinghamshire through the year
Typical times for Nottingham, in UK local time, around the middle of each month. Use them to plan your journey home as well as your arrival.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Dusk ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:10 | 16:17 | 16:58 |
| February | 07:22 | 17:15 | 17:52 |
| March | 06:20 | 18:08 | 18:43 |
| April | 06:07 | 20:03 | 20:41 |
| May | 05:07 | 20:55 | 21:40 |
| June | 04:38 | 21:31 | 22:23 |
| July | 04:57 | 21:22 | 22:11 |
| August | 05:45 | 20:31 | 21:11 |
| September | 06:38 | 19:20 | 19:55 |
| October | 07:30 | 18:09 | 18:44 |
| November | 07:27 | 16:09 | 16:48 |
| December | 08:11 | 15:47 | 16:30 |
Dusk ends is when civil twilight finishes, usually 30 to 50 minutes after sunset in southern England and longer further north. After that you need lights. Times shift by a few minutes across the area.
The law and your safety
England and Wales: sex outdoors is not automatically an offence. It can become one if members of the public are likely to see it. Charities such as the Terrence Higgins Trust give the same advice. Read their public sex environments guide.
Wherever you are, the basics don't change. Get a clear yes from everyone. Tell someone where you're going. Stay sober. Keep out of sight of anyone who hasn't agreed to see you. Use condoms, and use a new one with each partner.
Questions about Nottinghamshire
Is dogging legal in Nottinghamshire?
Having sex outdoors is not automatically a crime in England and Wales. It becomes an offence when members of the public can see it, for example outraging public decency or indecent exposure. Sex in a public toilet is an offence. This is general information, not legal advice.
Do you list dogging spots in Nottinghamshire?
No. This guide covers the area, not private places. We don't name car parks, lay-bys or woods, because other people use them too and visitors can end up in trouble.
Is this guide only for Nottingham?
No. It covers the whole county, including Mansfield, Newark, Worksop, Retford and the Trent valley, as well as the city itself.
Is Sherwood Forest a National Park?
No. Nottinghamshire has no National Park. Sherwood is a historic forest area, and today it is a mix of woodland, heath and farmland that spreads across the middle and north of the county.
Why does the Trent matter for travel?
It floods after prolonged rain. Roads close around Newark and the villages along the river, sometimes with little warning, so check the flood alerts as well as the traffic news.
Nearby areas
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