does anyone know nottinghamshire? please tell me if this kind of place exists>

[oranges]

I'm looking for a b&b or guest house, in the countryside, pref with cycle hire nearby, for a few nights. I want somewhere toddler-friendly where we could ideally have meals in the evening, without dragging an overtired baby to the local pub.
South Notts or North Leic or Vale of Belvoir area.

Edwinstowe?

There are b&bs there, but don't know how nice, etc. They look nice from the outside. You are very close to both Clumber Park and Sherwood forest. There is definetly bike hire at Clumber and I think at Sherwood Pines as well.

Oh CLumber park looks lovely. Edwinstowe looks good, but I had an idea that a farm or something would be nice, so the countryside is right outside our front dooer (we are coming from central London and desperate for greenery).

How about here;

www.wellowpark.co.uk/breakfast.htm

Clumber Park is north Nottinghamshire not south. Do you particularly need to be in south Notts?

WE're going to see a friend who lives in west bridgeford, so want to be able to get to her easily, hence south notts.

Centreparks, near Clipstone.

Edwinstowe again here...Forest Lodge hotel might be nice - my ILs go there for lunch (and BIL has stayed there)
Clumber is fab as is Rufford and I love Sherwood Pines. Farnsfield is a pretty village that might do B&B

this is good place to visit

I have stayed at the Forest Lodge Hotel (for several weeks), this was about 10 years ago, mind. Can't remember I had any complaints. I was doing field work in Sherwood Pines (formerly Clipstone forest).
It's kind of a scummy area of the country, mind (socially), I first heard the term 'scrotes' to describe the locals when I was working there (used by a local). Mansfield (5 miles away) used to have the highest deliquent crime rate by minors, still not a great town. Socially deprived due to multiple mine closures in the late 80s/early 90s.
Probably okay by London standards. Maybe all rural areas have such problems, if you scratch the surface hard enough.

yikes chavtastic - my ILs live there (Ollerton) and dh grew up there but I do know what you mean - Mansfield is dire, but the villages and countryside around Ollerton are lovely...I'm very fond of the place in a DH Lawrence kind of way

Bike hire at Sherwood Pines might be seasonal, phone first.
The Robin Hood place, With magnificent ancient trees if you dig trees. Best avoided in high tourist season for Americans, tho'.

Have a look here. If there's nothing that answers your question about bike hire, then you could ocntact them for info.

WB is totally opposite side of the county as you've probably realised from ost of the areas mentioned so far. It is part of Rushcliffe Borough which, whilst Nottingham came in something like the Top Ten Worst Places to Live, Rushcliffe came in the Top Ten compiled by the same people (Phil and whatsername). Neighbouring boroughs

Anyway, Clumber Park is great for a day out - the cycle ride round the lake is very child friendly. Last time we went we did that in the morning and another in the afternoon. Next time I plan to cycle the lake in the morning and enjoy more time walking around in the afternoon and hire bikes for only half a day.

You could look for something over towards Melton Mowbray and the villages around there. Esp nice if you enjoy good food, pub grub, local produce, etc

Definitely stay South notts or the Vale side of Nottingham otherwise you will just spend all your time driving to see friend.

here
here

not sure if they offer evening meals tho'

www.the-redhouse.co.uk/
I'm rubbish at liks but this is lovely

Try the Chequers Inn at Woolsthorpe - excellent accomadation and fab food beautifully set in area aroudn Belvior Castle or The Manor Arms at Knipton - owned by the Duke and Duchess of Rutland

Friends in WB have told me that the A46 tends to be the preferred route towards Bridgford when coming off the M1 because the journey along the A453 is so hideous.

Yes, leave M1 at J21a and take A46 towards Leicester, then towards Newark and take A606 into Nottingham.
A46 into Nottingham at rush hour is very congested though.
If you stay out near Belvoir Castle, it is a 25 minute drive into WB.

Did someone mention me?
Seriously though it is quite a long drive from south Notts to Clumber.

Oh thank you for all these!. Will peruse and decide. Robinpud, I tried you two, but one is full and the other one doesn't want toddlers!

The Youth Hostel at Edwinstowe is meant to be good, recently done up and they are family friendly.
Mansfield isn't dire and please don't believe the hype about crime rates etc in Notts. You'll enjoy your stay.

ds was really scared about going into Nottingham last summer in case he got shot...but he loved it,frolicking in the fountains in the square and walking up to the castle. Mansfield is just a dull,standard town with the usual shops

oranges- have a look at experience nottingham for some more places. Jericho farm at Cotgrave does b and b but not sure about the evening meal thing.