"Echoes of the old Charnwood Forest can be found in a wildlife-rich wood near Leicester."
Walk directions
From the car park, with the road behind you, take the well-walked path behind the right of two noticeboards into the woods. Stay on the wide track as it rounds a large mound and on the far side drop down to the left to reach a crossroads of paths. Turn right for a broad, straight route through the trees until you reach a short strip of fence near a wooden litter bin.
Turn right and in 50yds (46m), where the bridleway bends right, go straight on around the side of small hill. With the woodland edge close on your right, continue on this path until you approach the road. Fork right for a short path to emerge on the corner of the woods.
Cross the road for the signposted footpath opposite. Walk up a long, straight track beside a field with the hilltop folly of Old John Tower on the skyline ahead. At the far end go over a path and through the high gate into Bradgate Park, then turn left and follow the path beside the wall. Just past a small covered reservoir fork right by a bench for a long and undulating path across the middle of the park.
You finally drop down to a popular, surfaced track alongside Cropston Reservoir. Turn right the short distance for the tea room and visitor centre, otherwise go left to reach Hallgates. Go through the car park and out of the park, turning left on to the verge of the road for 100yds (91m). Cross over carefully beyond Horseshoe Cottage Farm for a stile into a field. Now head diagonally left through several fields, heading for the far corner of the woods.
Approaching but not in the corner, go over a stile in the fence on the right and cross the stream. Turn left on to a path up to a bridleway. Turn right and follow this wide and direct route back into the woods, ignoring smaller turnings left and right. At the far corner of a fenced-off old quarry fork right downhill, then go straight over a junction. Continue on the main track, which veers slightly left, to eventually reach a clearing with picnic tables.
On the far side of the clearing fork right, then in 75yds (69m) branch left up towards a gate. Go left in front of the gate on a path, then straight over at a junction for a narrower path. Follow this around the edge of another disused quarry to drop back down to the car park.Â
Despite being on the doorsteps of Leicester’s suburbs and managed as part of nearby Bradgate Park Country Park, the semi-ancient natural woodland of Swithland Wood feels a world apart from the urban bustle of the East Midlands. Although it covers a relatively modest 146 acres (59ha), Swithland is... in fact a remnant of the original Charnwood Forest, which can be traced back to Norman times. The fortunes of the forest Contrary to its name, Charnwood Forest was not in fact tree-covered but a rocky and open tract of upland that stretched across north west Leicestershire. Its high points are still notable county tops today, like Beacon Hill and Bardon Hill. Although certainly historic, Charnwood was never a royal hunting forest but was used by local lords and landowners, as much for grazing as field sports. There were certainly significant patches of woodland throughout Charnwood, and indeed Swithland itself has been actively managed for timber for centuries, so much so that by the end of the 18th century records show that much of Charnwood had been stripped of its trees. At that time the wood was typically sold for used in local iron forges, making charcoal and for general construction, with large quantities of Swithland oak sold to the iron foundries of Melbourne in south Derbyshire. In 1808 Charnwood Forest was subject to an Act of Enclosure, which meant that around 11,000 acres (4,450ha) were divided up between individual owners – although it took 20 years to sort out all the claimants – and the forest effectively parcelled up into separate holdings. Despite overgrazing, felling and enclosure, Swithland Wood has remained resilient and today is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of the most wildlife-rich woods in Leicestershire that is accessible to the public. The dominant trees are oak, ash and small-leaved lime, as well as birch, alder and holly. Apart from harbouring an array of birds and plants, the diversity of trees also supports an impressive collection of fungi, which are at their best in the autumn. A clean slate There are a number of old quarries and pits in the wood which once yielded the local Swithland slate, a valuable roofing material that had been quarried since the Roman times. Indeed, the now long-abandoned ‘Great Pit’ in the middle of Swithland Wood was worked to a depth of 180ft (55m). Although Swithland slate can still be found on many local roofs and gravestones, it was also used throughout the region and even on such prestigious buildings as St Pancras railway station in London. The slates have a distinctive dark purple/grey or even green/grey hue, and because they are difficult to split compared to Welsh slates they tend to be thicker and rougher.Â
Leicestershire is divided between the large country estates of its eastern side and the industrial towns of the East Midlands to its west. Coal mining was an important part of the county’s industrial development in the 19th and 20th centuries.
"Echoes of the old Charnwood Forest can be found in a wildlife-rich wood near Leicester."
Walk details
2hrs
Difficulty:
Medium
Gradient:
Moderate
Distance:
3.5 miles (5.7kms)
Ascent:
225ft (68m)
Walk directions
From the car park, with the road behind you, take the well-walked path behind the right of two noticeboards into the woods. Stay on the wide track as it rounds a large mound and on the far side drop down to the left to reach a crossroads of paths. Turn right for a broad, straight route through the trees until you reach a short strip of fence near a wooden litter bin.
1 of 6
Turn right and in 50yds (46m), where the bridleway bends right, go straight on around the side of small hill. With the woodland edge close on your right, continue on this path until you approach the road. Fork right for a short path to emerge on the corner of the woods.
2 of 6
Cross the road for the signposted footpath opposite. Walk up a long, straight track beside a field with the hilltop folly of Old John Tower on the skyline ahead. At the far end go over a path and through the high gate into Bradgate Park, then turn left and follow the path beside the wall. Just past a small covered reservoir fork right by a bench for a long and undulating path across the middle of the park.
3 of 6
You finally drop down to a popular, surfaced track alongside Cropston Reservoir. Turn right the short distance for the tea room and visitor centre, otherwise go left to reach Hallgates. Go through the car park and out of the park, turning left on to the verge of the road for 100yds (91m). Cross over carefully beyond Horseshoe Cottage Farm for a stile into a field. Now head diagonally left through several fields, heading for the far corner of the woods.
4 of 6
Approaching but not in the corner, go over a stile in the fence on the right and cross the stream. Turn left on to a path up to a bridleway. Turn right and follow this wide and direct route back into the woods, ignoring smaller turnings left and right. At the far corner of a fenced-off old quarry fork right downhill, then go straight over a junction. Continue on the main track, which veers slightly left, to eventually reach a clearing with picnic tables.
5 of 6
On the far side of the clearing fork right, then in 75yds (69m) branch left up towards a gate. Go left in front of the gate on a path, then straight over at a junction for a narrower path. Follow this around the edge of another disused quarry to drop back down to the car park.Â
Despite being on the doorsteps of Leicester’s suburbs and managed as part of nearby Bradgate Park Country Park, the semi-ancient natural woodland of Swithland Wood feels a world apart from the urban bustle of the East Midlands. Although it covers a relatively modest 146 acres (59ha), Swithland is... in fact a remnant of the original Charnwood Forest, which can be traced back to Norman times. The fortunes of the forest Contrary to its name, Charnwood Forest was not in fact tree-covered but a rocky and open tract of upland that stretched across north west Leicestershire. Its high points are still notable county tops today, like Beacon Hill and Bardon Hill. Although certainly historic, Charnwood was never a royal hunting forest but was used by local lords and landowners, as much for grazing as field sports. There were certainly significant patches of woodland throughout Charnwood, and indeed Swithland itself has been actively managed for timber for centuries, so much so that by the end of the 18th century records show that much of Charnwood had been stripped of its trees. At that time the wood was typically sold for used in local iron forges, making charcoal and for general construction, with large quantities of Swithland oak sold to the iron foundries of Melbourne in south Derbyshire. In 1808 Charnwood Forest was subject to an Act of Enclosure, which meant that around 11,000 acres (4,450ha) were divided up between individual owners – although it took 20 years to sort out all the claimants – and the forest effectively parcelled up into separate holdings. Despite overgrazing, felling and enclosure, Swithland Wood has remained resilient and today is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of the most wildlife-rich woods in Leicestershire that is accessible to the public. The dominant trees are oak, ash and small-leaved lime, as well as birch, alder and holly. Apart from harbouring an array of birds and plants, the diversity of trees also supports an impressive collection of fungi, which are at their best in the autumn. A clean slate There are a number of old quarries and pits in the wood which once yielded the local Swithland slate, a valuable roofing material that had been quarried since the Roman times. Indeed, the now long-abandoned ‘Great Pit’ in the middle of Swithland Wood was worked to a depth of 180ft (55m). Although Swithland slate can still be found on many local roofs and gravestones, it was also used throughout the region and even on such prestigious buildings as St Pancras railway station in London. The slates have a distinctive dark purple/grey or even green/grey hue, and because they are difficult to split compared to Welsh slates they tend to be thicker and rougher.Â
Leicestershire is divided between the large country estates of its eastern side and the industrial towns of the East Midlands to its west. Coal mining was an important part of the county’s industrial development in the 19th and 20th centuries.
